Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Garry McKenzie
Images: Chris Simpson

A gutsy Western Pride Women have ended their seven match winless run with an upset 3-1 win over SWQ Thunder Women at Briggs Road Complex.

The hosts stormed to a two goal advantage inside the opening half hour via Nikkola Dawes and Rahni Pritchard, before Thunder pulled a goal back just a minute into the second stanza courtesy of Melanie Lloyd.

However, Pride provied resilient to deny a flurry of further Thunder attacking raids before sealing the result in the closing stages when Montana McAvoy struck her first goal of the season.

The win lifts Pride to eighth on the table and maintains their perfect record against Thunder in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s competition.

Early season surprise packet Thunder have succumbed to three straight defeats in recent weeks and are now four points outside the top four at the competition’s half-way point.

Key Moments

4’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Rahni Pritchard hugging the left touch found Melissa von Bischoffshausen who cut in and hit a low shot just past the wrong side of the left upright

6’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE - Nikkola Dawes latches onto a Thunder clearance to volley inside the right post from 25 yards

8’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – A Thunder cross evades a crowded penalty area to reach Melanie Lloyd on the far post but her shot is straight into Pride goalkeeper Kirsten Veeren

22’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE - Ella Jewell Roosen chases down a loose ball at the back of the area, puts in a great forward touch to Pritchard who places a shot inside the right post

25’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER - Abbey Lloyd shows persistence as she muscles through the Pride defence but her shot goes just wide

36’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER - Melanie Lloyd gets onto the end of a series of sweeping passes and hits a powerful shot which Veeren cannot hold but the keeper recovered to dive onto the ball

46’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER - Abbey Lloyd runs the second half kick-off deep into the Pride area where Falaniko Ah Ki’s block falls for Melanie Lloyd, who lifted the ball coolly over Veeren to pull one back

46’ GOAL FOR THUNDER - Abbey Lloyd runs the second half kick-off deep into the Pride area where Falaniko Ah Ki’s block falls for Melanie Lloyd, who lifted the ball coolly over Veeren to pull one back

47’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER - Melanie Lloyd smashes a shot from the top of the arc which smashes into the crossbar before bouncing on the line for Mariecamilla Falaniko Ah Ki to clear

64’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Melanie Lloyd again with a chance and forces a brilliant diving save from Veeren that pushes the ball over the crossbar

71’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER - A corner finds Sarah Sheridan lurking at the back of the area where she shoots through the crowd to force a diving save from Veeren

87’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE - Montanna McAvoy runs onto a counter-attacking through-ball while holding-off a shoulder to shoulder challenge before converting the finish and sealing the points

What They Said

“The first half we came out really strong and it’s something we’ve been working on for a long time. We dropped off a bit after that but we kept in the game and we kept working. It wasn’t pretty but we got the result in the end.“ – Kirsten Veeren, Western Pride FC captain

“We did have the majority of the possession and the shots and we were honestly all over them but we were unlucky. They had a couple of shots and they hit the back of the net but that’s soccer. So a bit disappointed but looking forward to the next time we play them to see what happens.“ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder FC captain

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 11

Sunday, May 22
Briggs Road Complex, Ipswich

Western Pride FC – 3 (Nikkola DAWES 6’, Rahni PRITCHARD 22’, Montanna MCAVOY 87’)
SWQ Thunder FC – 1 (Melanie LLOYD 46’)

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials -