Words: Matt Tilby
Additional Reporting: Dennis Da Rin
Images: Albert Perez/Eastern Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs Women have kept pace with the top three following an entertaining 4-2 win over Gold Coast City Women on Sunday evening.

The Heath Park faithful were treated to a back and forth contest that roared into life early on, when Gold Coast’s Emily Benton slotted home her own rebound after just two minutes following a great save from Emma Gibbon.

Easts would respond strongly, however, and after five minutes the score was level – Easts’ midfield pressure allowed Georgie Amos to deliver a piledriver from long range that fizzed past Ellen Hepburn.

The home side continued to attack and would take the lead midway through the half, with Eloise Wadsworth slamming home after a well played through ball.

With Easts keen to take the ascendancy, subbing on two strikers early in the second period, it was Gold Coast who found the net again, with the dangerous Jayde Lowe’s fierce strike levelling the scores.

Easts would hit back almost immediately through Tiffany Roberts from close range, and after some tense moments as the game wound down, would seal the win thanks to Tegan Riding’s smart finish late on.

The win keeps Easts, who travel to play UQFC next week, in touching distance of league leaders Peninsula Power, while Gold Coast City remain mid-table following their third loss of the season.

Key Moments

2’ – GOAL FOR GOLD COAST – The ball is crossed to Emily Benton who shoots only to have Emma Gibbon save with her feet, but an ever alert Benton slots the rebound away.

4’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS - Tiffany Roberts hits a long range shot to have Ellen Hepburn pull off a fingertip save over the bar.

5’ – GOAL FOR EASTS - Georgie Amos is given room to push into midfield and unleash a long bomb which heats Hepburn into the top corner of the net.

19’ – GOAL FOR EASTS - Through ball from Dixon finds Eloise Wadsworth who drives into the box and fires into the roof of the net.

56’ – GOAL FOR GOLD COAST - Jayde Lowe scores with a powerful shot.

59’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – A scramble in the area finds Tiffany Roberts inside the 6 yard box and she passes the ball into the net.

63’ – CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST - Briellyn Bond shoots from just inside the box and hits the right hand corner of the goal.

69’ – CHANCE FOR GOLD COAST – A shot over the crossbar from Gold Coast relieves the pressure after a strong cross.

86’ – GOAL FOR EASTS - Tegan Riding calmly toes the ball past a rushing Ellen Hepburn after a pass from substitute Callie Manwaring.

Match Details

Playstation 4 NPL Women’s Queensland Season 2017 – Round 5
Sunday, April 30
Heath Park, East Brisbane

Eastern Suburbs FC Women – 4 (Amos 5’, Wadsworth 19’, Roberts 59’, Riding 86’)
Gold Coast City FC Women – 2 (Benton 2’, Lowe 56’)