Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Callum Dick
Images: Ray Gardner

A brace from Stephanie Foreman saw Gold Coast City Women fight back from a goal down to overpower last-placed Redlands United Women 4-1 at Cleveland Showgrounds.

The visitors dominated the contest from start to finish but fell behind inside half-hour when Whitney Howson delivered Redlands their first goal of the season for an unexpected early lead.

However, City struck twice in quick time before half-time via Foreman and Neesa Doyle to capture the advantage.

Foreman then rounded out her haul early in the second stanza before Charlotte Rayner iced the result with her first goal of the season.

City’s second win of the season came despite being unable to field a recognised goalkeeper due to injury – outfielders Chelsea Teveluwe and Joy Forsyth spending a half each filling the void between the posts.

The result lifts City into the top four for the first time this season with four matches remaining in the round and also consigns Redlands to a fifth straight defeat to open their maiden PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s campaign.

Key Moments

19’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Neesa Doyle takes advantage of a dribbling error from Redlands to dispossess but her shot from distance curls wide to the left

22’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Charlotte Rayner runs onto loose ball at edge of the area but miscues her touch allowing Redlands goalkeeper Samantha Vanderstam to quash the danger

25’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Whitney Howson pounces on a loose ball at the top of the box with her strike finding a path through a crowded penalty area to nestle into the back of the net

33’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Georgia Elliston wins possession from Nadine Magee and hits a powerful strike from 20 yards that just misses the target

35’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Joy Forsyth delivers a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Stephanie Foreman, who steps around Samantha Vanderstam before slotting into an empty net

41’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Stephanie Foreman is played through by Charlotte Rayner but this time this time Samantha Vanderstam makes the smother

43’ – GOAL FOR CITY - Neesa Doyle pounces on a Redlands defensive error to go one-on-one with Samantha Vanderstam and convert the finish from 10 yards

48' – GOAL FOR CITY – A heavy touch from Tayla Lee at the top of the box gifts Stephanie Foreman a path to goal and a simple finish past Samantha Vanderstam

63’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – First time effort from Neesa Doyle at the top of the box rockets into the post and then bounces across the face of goal

73’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Breanna Gatt strikes from outside the area through a crowded penalty box that leaves Samantha Vanderstam unsighted until too late

82’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Stephanie Foreman is again through one-one-one with Samantha Vanderstam but pushes her finish wide of the target

84’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Whitney Howson hits a dipping effort from distance but is foiled by an alert save from Joy Forsyth

89’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – A final chance for Stephanie Foreman to secure a hat-trick one-on-one but Samantha Vanderstam makes the save

What They Said

“Today we learned that we can score goals. Now we need to go back to the training paddock and keep working on that and get to the point where, when we get in front, we can defend those leads.“ – John Blanco, Redlands United FC Women coach

“Getting into positions firstly to have chances is what we’ve been working on and now we just need to work on finishing them. But I’m quite pleased on where we are and it’s a work in progress so I’m not going to be too hard on them.“ – David Thompson, Gold Coast City FC Women coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 5
Friday, April 9
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

Gold Coast City FC Women 4 defeat Redlands United FC Women 1

Redlands Goals – Whitney HOWSON 24’
Redlands Yellow Cards - none
Redlands Red Cards – none

Redlands Squad – 2. Whitney HOWSON, 6. Christina BYRD, 7. Gemma KLINE, 8. Nadine MAGEE, 9. Jordan WLODARCZAK (4. Jacinta DUNCAN 58’), 10. Rebecca CARBERRY, 11. Jordyn WITT, 12. Emilie ROCHELET, 13. Tayla LEE, 18. Kate MORRIS (19. Stephanie TOOMER 46’), 32. Samantha VENDERSTAM
Redlands Unused – none

City Goals – Stephanie FOREMAN 34’ 48’, Neesa DOYLE 43’, Breanna GATT 73’
City Yellow Cards - none
City Red Cards – none

City Squad – 3. Georgia ELLISTON, 5. Stephanie FOREMAN, 8. Charlotte RAYNER, .10. Kate BUTLER-HOWELL, 11. Jamilla RILEY, 12. Joy FORSYTH, 13. Jenaya WHAREKAWA, 14. Claire FARRINGTON, 15. Breanna GATT (6. Jade HORCICKA 67’), 16. Neesa DOYLE, 18. Chelsea TEVALUWE
City Unused – none

Match Officials – Joseph LEE (referee), Ben ORWELL (assistant), Saaed ALIPOUR (assistant)