Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Troy Belford
Images: Rebekah Browne

Eastern Suburbs FC Women have warmed up for finals football by easily accounting for Peninsula Power Women 10-0 at A.J.Kelly Park.

Power found few answers to a rampant Easts outfit that shared the goals amongst seven players – the bulk of the damage done in a seven-goal first-half blitz.

Emma Pittman, Kate Griffiths and Tegan Riding led the scorers with a brace each, while Susanne Mckeen, Tiffany Roberts, Yvonne Mathis and Nikkita Hubbard were also amongst the spoils.

The result marks the second time Easts have posted double figures against Power this season and sees them move into third on the table.

Olympic FC Women are able to recapture third when they close out the round on Monday night.

For Power, the result marks the end of a frustrating campaign that saw last year’s Finalists claim just two wins over the course of the season.

Key Moments

4’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Tiffany Roberts puts the visitors ahead early on after shaking a pair of Power defenders before slotting the finish past Power goalkeeper Hideka Shikata

26’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Tegan Riding evades the attentions of the Power defenders before placing a shot under the diving Shikata

31’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Emma Pittman adds her name to the scoresheet from the penalty spot

32’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Nikkita Hubbard pounces on a wayward pass back toward Shikata and converts her finish to the near post

35’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Kate Griffith meets a cross uncontested to tap the ball across the line from close range

38’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Riding again gets the better of her marker before steering the ball across the line to notch her second of the match

45’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Griffiths wins possession near the sideline before storming past two defenders on a run into the box then chipping the finish past Shikata

47’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Susan Mckeen crosses into the six-yard box where Pitman cleverly backheels the ball in at the back post

74’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – The Power defence is once more unable to diffuse a cross to the back post and Yvonne Mathis is on hand to apply the finishing touch

79’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Substitute Power goalkeeper Tallulah Vearing saves an initial shot but Mckeen quickly latches onto the rebound to take Easts into double figures.

What They Said

“It was good preparation for us heading into our Semi-Final next week. You always look forward to the finals. I think any of the top four in our competition can beat anyone. The girls are excited and we have a full quota of players to pick from.“ – Garrath McPherson, Eastern Suburbs FC Women coach

“The biggest comment I can make about the season is that it’s a learning process for everybody involved. I hadn’t coached at this level before and none of the girls had played at this level before. There is no question that the team and the individual players got better as the season went on. I have a core of eight to ten really good young players but what we need to recruit is a bunch of girls in that 24 to 28-year-old range to help them out. I’m already trying to recruit those.“ – Michael Cook, Peninsula Power FC Women coach

Match Details

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

Sunday, August 21
A.J.Kelly Park, Moreton Bay

Peninsula Power FC Women - 0
Eastern Suburbs FC Women – 10 (Tiffany ROBERTS 4’, Tegan RIDING 26’ 38’, Emma PITTMAN 31’ 47’, Nikkita HUBBARD 32’, Kate GRIFFITHS 35’ 45’, Yvonne MATHIS 74’, Susanne MCKEEN 79’)

Match Centre - http://bit.ly/2brW3yy

Match Officials – Glen Bell (referee), Jack Powers (assistant), Ethan Harvey (assistant)