A late Maddie Teakle finish in a tense game away at Wakerley Park earned us a second successive win to start the 2022 season at the top of the table.
A tight encounter on the road was separated by a lone Maddison Teakle strike to settle the tie in our favour on a rainy Friday evening away.
Teagan Thompson was replaced before kick-off by Zara Kruger following an injury during the warmup, while Mariel Hecher returned to the starting line-up after an extended break following the conclusion of her season in the A-League with Brisbane Roar.
After a quiet first half with few chances for either side, our Lionesses began to assert themselves in the match, coming close several times through Tegan Riding, Chelsea Blissett and Mariel Hecher.
The match looked determined to end goalless until Maddison Teakle roamed up the field from her position in right-back to slot home a tidy finish into the bottom left corner after a Georgia Rink cross slid across a wet box and into our full-backs path.
Speaking after the narrow victory, returning winger Mariel Hecher spoke about the result and the difficulty of playing on a synthetic surface.
“It’s the toughest one [on the synthetic pitch], especially for my old knees”, Hecher said. “So definitely felt a little bit on the weak end but happy to be back and happy we got the win.
“it was a tough game; the conditions were a bit tough but what was important was the three points and I’m glad we got it.
“Souths is a great team that has great players, and we knew that, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“We are playing as a team now collectively and I think the result did just show up, we were trying really, really hard but it was just one of those little crosses that G [Georgia Rink] has been practising and it was a perfect ball and Maddie just had to tap in, so it was great.”
Our Lionesses are back home next weekend where they’ll face an inform Eastern Suburbs side who are looking to continue their bright start to the season.
MATCH DETAILS
Women’s NPL Queensland 2022 Round #2
Souths United vs Lions FC
Friday, 22nd April
KO: 8:30pm
Wakerley Park, Runcorn
SOUTHS UNITED 0
LIONS FC 1
HT: 0-0
