Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting & Images: Paul Smith

Two goals inside the opening ten minutes kept SWQ Thunder Women’s hopes of a top four finish alive following a 2-1 win over Gold Coast City Women at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

Thunder stormed to a two goal lead in the opening exchanges via Melanie Lloyd and Sarah Sheridan and proved resolute to hold their advantage to the half.

Joy Forsyth set the scene for a tense finish by pulling a goal back midway through the second stanza, however Thunder ultimately held firm to notch their third straight win of the campaign.

The result secures Thunder’s hold on fifth spot on the table but still sees the Toowoomba-based club still needing a strong run home to close a seven point gap to the fourth and last spot in this year’s Finals Series.

City remain in sixth place and the result extends a club record fifth straight defeat for last year’s PlayStation 4 NPL Women’s Queensland runners-up.

Key Moments

6’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Rosanna Berry picks out Melanie Lloyd at the front post from a corner enabling the Thunder to head home the opener

9’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – A penalty is awarded following an infringement by the City defenders inside the penalty area, allowing Sarah Sheridan to double the advantage from the spot

37’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Neesa Doyle breaks free from her defender, but her hurried shot from outside the area is straight at Thunder goalkeeper Elizabeth Hollitt

40’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Stephanie Foreman shoots from just inside the area but is denied by a diving save from Hollitt

48’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Melanie Lloyd plays through Abbey Lloyd, who then turns and lines up the top corner with a curling shot that lands on the roof of the netting

49’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Jayde Lowe looks to pull a goal back from the edge of the area but is denied by another Hollitt save

61’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Foreman cuts in from deep on the left wing but her dangerous cross is intercepted by the alert Hollitt

68’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Jessica Fry intercepts City’s goalk kick and crosses to Emma Beecham on the right wing, but her shot is saved by City goalkeeper Sarah McDonald

70’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Joy Forsyth halves the deficit with a stunning strike from 40 yards out on the left wing that sneaks in off the underside of the crossbar

74’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Foreman again threatens with a solid strike but Hollitt is once again up to task to make the save

86’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Abbey Lloyd intercepts a pass from McDonald but her curling effort does dip enough and goes over the crossbar

What They Said

“We came away with a draw last time and we are both sitting mid-table and it really was a must-win game for both teams. We both went out pretty hard. We are happy to come away with the points but it was a good fight and we were lucky to come away with it in the end.“ – Jordan Franke, SWQ Thunder captain

“I think we played really well but I think we were a bit unlucky. We deserved a bit more out of that game I think. But I’m really proud of the girls – they gave it everything and worked really hard for each other.“ – Jayde Lowe, Gold Coast City FC captain

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s 2016 – Round 15

Sunday, June 26
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

SWQ Thunder FC Women – 2 (Melanie LLOYD 6’, Sarah SHERIDAN 9’p)
Gold Coast City FC Women – 1 (Joy FORSYTH 70’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/28VGf8u

Match Officials – Thomas CARROLL (referee), Kehan RYLEY (assistant), Joshua EISER (assistant)