Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Joshua Martin
Images: Chris Simpson

The Gap FC Women are just one win away from a perfect season after smashing Redlands United Women 9-0 at Walton Bridge Reserve.

Ruth Blackburn led the charge for the Premiers with four goals, while Greta Bodey continued her prolific 2016 campaign with a hat-trick.

Kaitlyn Winter also chimed in with a strike in the first-half and the result was iced in the final minutes by Zali Eason-Coutts.

The result sees Gators only needing to win their final match against Gold Coast City Women next week to reach their publicly stated goal of an undefeated regular season.

Redland’s 18^th straight defeat sees them confirmed as this season’s wooden spooners, and with only two more chances to post their first points in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s competition this year.

Key Moments

3’ - CHANCE FOR GATORS - Zali Eason-Coutts draws a parried save from Redlands goalkeeper Jessica Anderson before Ruth Blackburn slams the follow-up attempt into the crossbar

7’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Blackburn breaks into the clear via a through ball and keeps her composure to slot the finish

16’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Eden Jones’ cross is misjudged by Anderson, leaving Kaitlyn Winter to tap the ball across the line

32’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Blackburn touches on a cutback for Jones, who takes a touch but over hits the strike, sending it over the crossbar

40’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Following a neat interchange of passes in the build-up, Greta Bodey receives a cross inside the penalty area on the bounce and smashes home the finish on the volley

53’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Redlands fail to clear their lines from a Gators attacking raid and the ball is pounced on by Blackburn at the top of the arc, who returns a first-time strike into the back of the net

60’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Blackburn’s run into the box is fed with a pass to her feet before she curls the finish past Anderson into the top right corner of the goal

70’ – CHANCE FOR GATORS – Megan Price dribbles past two defenders before sending a shot narrowly wide of the target from 20 yards out

74’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Bodey releases Blackburn with a through-ball before the midfielder cuts inside a defender and slots a low finish to complete for haul

80’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Bodey this time benefits from a defence-splitting pass through the midfield and makes no mistake with the finish

82’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – An unmarked Bodey wraps up her hat-trick by heading home a cross at the far post

90’ – GOAL FOR GATORS – Jones crosses from the byline to the far post when Eason-Coutts converts with the headed finish to round out the scoring spree

What They Said

“The Gap are hard to defend and they can score from anywhere. They stretch you wide and then play it back inside where the defence is light on. We have been working on building passages of play without conceding and we did that. From the start of the year to now we have improved tenfold. Our young players are in a learning process. With the last games we’ll be hoping to continue our progress.” – John Blanco, Redlands United FC Women coach

“We controlled the tempo and challenged ourselves to maintain a high standard which will be vital in the finals. At half time Rob (Askew) told us to be more decisive in front of goal. In the second half we did that and scored plenty of goals. We overloaded their defence by getting our midfield to push forward. As the finals approach we need to stay focused and continue to set ourselves goals and ensure that we play good football.” – Catherine O’Neil, The Gap FC Women defender

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 21

Saturday, August 13
Walton Bridge Reserve, Brisbane

The Gap FC Women – 9 (Ruth BLACKBURN 7’ 53’ 60’ 74’, Kaitlyn WINTER 16’, Greta BODEY 40’ 80’ 82’, Zali EASON-COUTTS 90’)
Redlands United FC – 0

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bpDBui

Match Officials – Chris Sharkey (referee), David Downey (assistant), Adam Cook (assistant)