Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Cara Confessore
Images: Ky Wain

The Gap FC Women are edging ever closer to back-to-back Premiership titles after seeing off second-placed Souths United Women 2-1 at Wakerley Park.

The Gators struck either side of half-time via Catherine O’Neill and Eden Jones to set-up the win, with Souths unable to claw the league-leaders black despite Ambrosia Malone pulling netting on the hour.

The win moves the Gators eight points clear in the title race with just seven matches remaining in the regular season.

The result also continues a stunning run of form for the unbeaten league-leaders – their double over Souths now extending their winning streak to 18 games since July last year.

Souths retain their hold on second place in the standings narrowly ahead of Olympic FC Women in the race for a home Semi-Final.

Key Moments

20’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Jessica Dillon dribbles in from the right into the penalty area but sees her forceful strike deflected by Souths goalkeeper Bianca Warrener

34’ – CHANCE FOR SOUTHS – Georgia Keen bursts into the penalty area but sees her strike bounce off the post. Caitlin Moss looks to capitalise on the follow-up by skies her attempt

37’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Catherine O’Neill converts with a pin-point free-kick from 20 plus yards to open accounts

52’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Ruth Blackburn dribbles to the edge of the penalty area before laying off to Eden Jones, who slots the ball past Warrener into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal

61’ – GOAL FOR SOUTHS – Kirsten McGilvray crosses from the left where Ambrosia Malone is on hand to turn the ball in to pull a goal back

78’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Blackburn sends a stinging effort towards the top corner but it is palmed over the crossbar by the vigilant Warrener

What They Said

“We were confident we would win. We’re a good side and have had good results. This is the third time we have played Souths this season and I thought we deserved to win the previous two. Today was the toughest of the three though but we hung on in the end. But that’s the sign of a good team – to grind things out when the going gets tough and it got very tough in that last fifteen minutes.“ – Rob Askew, The Gap FC Women coach

“I thought the two teams cancelled each other out but overall I was pleased with the girls performance tonight. The Gap played exactly how we expected them to play. There was nothing different and it was a very tight game. I’m just disappointed with the two goals we conceded.“ – Gary French, Souths United FC Women coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 15

Sunday, June 26
Wakerley Park, Brisbane

Souths United FC Women – 1 (Ambrosia MALONE 61’)
The Gap FC Women – 2 (Catherine O’NEILL 37’, Eden JONES 52’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/28ZIeup