Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: John Schiavo
Image: Albert Perez

Olympic FC Women have edged into second on the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s table after drawing Eastern Suburbs FC Women 2-2 in a see-sawing contest at Heath Park.

A double for league leading goalscorer Kirsten Jamieson wasn’t enough to seal the win for the visitors, with Easts drawing level with a quarter hour remaining through Michaela Hatzirodos.

Earlier, Tegan Riding had given Easts the perfect start with a fourth minute opener, before Olympic fought back into the ascedency.

The result sees Olympic move ahead of Souths United Women – who play Sunday - on goal difference in the race to secure a home semi-final, while Easts remain just one point off the pace in fourth.

The three clubs are already guaranteed a place in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s 2016 Finals Series along with Premiers The Gap FC Women.

Key Moments

4’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Michaela Hatzirodos’ driving run puts the Olympic defence on the backfoot before she slips the ball through for Tegan Riding to touch past onrushing Olympic goalkeeper Jessica McLean for the opener

11’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC – Kirsten Jamieson gets in behind the Easts line but defender Renee Cowan is alert and closes down the chance

35’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC – Bronte Watson plays through Lorena Maggio but her first time strike fizzes just over the crossbar

40’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – A direct ball is controlled by Jamieson before she unleashes a stinging strike into the top corner from 25 yards out that gives Easts goalkeeper Anastasia Mavrick no chance of a save

57’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – Harkana Dixon switches play to Tiffany Roberts but her first time strike from just inside the penalty area is dealt with by McLean

65’ – CHANCE FOR OLYMPIC – Maggio picks out Jamieson’s run into the channel however the striker’s firmly struck low effort is saved by Mavrick

69’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Mavrick looks to diffuse the danger as a pass seeks to pick out Olympic winger Allira Toby, however the attempted clearance ricochets off Toby and falls for Jamieson to convert into an empty net

75’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Riding forces a save by McLean after benefitting from a cutback from Emma Pittman, however the rebound falls invitingly for Michaela Hatzirodos to tuck across the line to level terms

81’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – A free-kick from out wide causes confusion in the Olympic defences before falling for Hatzirodos but her snap strike flies wide of the post

84’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – Kate Griffiths steals possession and evades the attentions of Rebekah Horsey before forcing a solid save with a low strike

What They Said

“I’m probably a little bit disappointed with the result. I think we did enough to win the game and we paid the price for a few errors. Those errors are inevitable when you try and play possession based football to a degree. In particular in the last half an hour a couple of decisions didn’t go the way we would like them to and the Olympic goalkeeper played very well. It wouldn’t been a little bit nice to get revenge for the first round defeat at their ground but we hope to get them again in the finals.“ – Garrath McPherson, Eastern Suburbs FC Women coach

“Leading into the finals we’re not unhappy with that result. The draw shows both our teams are pretty strong and it shows that both have lapses. Both sides are very young but I think going into the finals against another top four team the draw is not a bad result for us.“ – Natalie Tathem, Olympic FC Women captain

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 20

Saturday, August 6
Heath Park, Brisbane

Eastern Suburbs FC Women – 2 (Tegan RIDING 4’, Michaela HATZIRODOS 75’)
Olympic FC Women – 2 (Kirsten JAMIESON 40’ 69’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2aJ3mBu