Eastern Suburbs FC Women have kicked off their 2017 campaign with a big win, powering past Sunshine Coast FC Women 4-0 on a muggy morning at AJ Kelly Park.
Easts started the match in mid-season form, dominating midfield and driving relentlessly forward through Tegan Riding, Harkana Dixon and Jessica Gibson.
Riding opened the scoring and was brilliant throughout as Fire struggled to cope with the potent Easts attack.
Easts finished 17 points ahead of Fire in 2016 and this match showed there is still a gap between the two sides. Teyana Bielby had a fantastic chance to open the scoring inside ten minutes but Fire were largely held in check after that opportunity.
Fire will attempt to rebound next week when they visit SWQ Thunder Women, while Easts will host 2016 Grand Finalists Olympic FC Women.
Key Moments
6’ – CHANCE FOR FIRE – Teyana Bielby races through on goal after a long clearance evades the Easts backline, but her shot is straight at Emma Gibbon.
7’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Jessica Gibson’s cross finds Tegan Riding and the captain takes one touch before finishing with confidence.
13’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Shannon Buhmann spills Riding’s cross, allowing Harkana Dixon to poke home from a metre out.
27’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – Aqua Meanie beats the offside trap and sends a powerful effort across the face of goal but Buhmann is up to the task.
45’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Riding is left unmarked from a corner and controls beautifully before firing in from outside the box.
58’ – GOAL FOR EASTS – Dixon releases Gibson with a measured ball and the winger easily converts the one-on-one.
88’ – CHANCE FOR EASTS – Riding comes agonisingly close to a hat-trick but her shot from a tight angle skews the wrong side of the post.
Match Details
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s Queensland 2017 – Round 1
Sunday, 19 March
AJ Kelly Park
Sunshine Coast FC Women 0
Eastern Suburbs FC Women 4 (Tegan RIDING 7′ 45′, Harkana DIXON 13′, Jessica GIBSON 58′)
Referee – Vicky CLARK
Assistant – Lucy JOHNSON
Assistant – Kryshna MARKOVICS
Article originally appeared on www.nplqld.com.au
