Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting & Images: Paul Smith

SWQ Thunder Women have wrapped up their season on a high following a 1-0 win over Western Pride Women at Gatton Soccer Club.

Thunder leading goal scorer Abbey Lloyd delivered the decisive goal shortly after the quarter-hour to put paid to a four-match run of defeats.

The hosts dominated the chances throughout the contest, however, were repeatedly foiled by the industry of Pride goalkeeper Kirsten Veeren.

The result secures Thunder a fifth place finish on the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s table – the first time the Toowoomba club has concluded the year in the top half.

It also ends a less than stellar conclusion to the year for Pride, who failed to find the back of the net since June.

Key Moments

7’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Emma Beecham lines up a strike from the corner of the penalty area but it bounces back off the crossbar

14’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Rosanna Berry’s ball into the six-yard box is met by the head of Abbey Lloyd and she draws a diving save from Pride goalkeeper Kirsten Veeren

16’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Sarah Sheridan takes aim from the edge of the penalty area to draw a parried save from Veeren, but Lloyd is on hand to pounce on the rebound and bury the ball into the back of the net

18’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE - Melissah Von Bischoffshausen’s free kick drifts threateningly toward the back post but Thunder goalkeeper Lucinda Jensen is alert and collects it cleanly

23’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Lloyd shakes the attentions of her marker to fashion space for a shot but is foiled by a save from Veeren

41’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE - Von Bischoffshausen shoots from 25 yards in front of goal drawing a diving save from Jensen

61’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Harriet Killen threatens with a shot on the angle but it scoots beyond a diving Veeren and across the face of goal

70’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Killen bounds down the left before cutting back for Berry but her strike fades wide of the target

74’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Kate Beecham receives a lay-off from Lloyd on the burst, but sees her strike denied by the diving Veeren

85’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Lloyd releases Caitlyn Stocker one-on-one with Veeren, however, she is unable to find the back of the net

90’ - CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Lloyd cuts a swathe through the Pride ranks before pulling the trigger 12 yards out but is again foiled by the reflexes of Veeren

What They Said

“Pride have been our bogey team this year. This week was a big challenge for us and we really wanted to get the points and was a must-win game if we wanted to finish fifth. All the girls came out ready to play hard to get the win so all the girls are really excited. I think we deserved fifth place this year. Every week the girls put in 100 per cent every week and I'm really proud of them but Tiff (Dibley) rocks my socks and Abbey Lloyd was also outstanding.“ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder FC captain

“We’ve had a couple of not so good games in recent weeks so it was good to come back and put in a good performance. We had three 15-year-olds play with us today and they played awesome the whole game. It was great to see them step-up into senior football.“ – Kirsten Veeren, Western Pride FC Women captain

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 22

Sunday, August 21
Gatton Soccer Club, Lockyer Valley

SWQ Thunder FC Women – 1 (Abbey LLOYD 16’)
Western Pride FC Women – 0

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bGONAF