Goals from Evelyn Calhoon, Abbey Lloyd, and Anna Soulsby saw our Lions Women secure a third consecutive cleansheet with a 3-0 victory over Souths Strikers at home!
Our Lions Women picked up exactly where we left off, with another comfortable and calculated victory. Three wins in a row now, and most notably, three consecutive cleansheets. Immense.
It was a quick start at Luxury Paints Stadium. Quick, just like the last time we faced Souths Strikers several weeks ago on a late Tuesday evening at Perry Park. This time, we opened the scoring in five minutes.
If you looked at our scoreboard during the game, you would have thought it was Anna Soulsby who opened the scoring. That’s because we thought she did, but clearly our glasses were foggy from the rain. It was Evelyn Calhoon who got the final touch that sent the ball under the keeper’s arm following Amy Gunston’s sharp cutback. A post-game Media Team VAR check with the help of Teagan Hugo and a FaceTime call with Evelyn confirmed the truth!
One goal ahead in quick fashion, and our Lions Women increased control by the minute. Elli Chapple made a sturdy save at her near post, and moments before the hour mark, Abbey Lloyd doubled our advantage with a crisp, slow-motion header that arced over the keeper and into the back of the net from the edge of the box!
29′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
A deft header from Abbey Lloyd sinks over the keeper and into the bottom right corner from a distance 🏹
𝐋𝐈𝐎 2 – 0 𝐒𝐎𝐔#HeartPridePassion | #NPLWQLD pic.twitter.com/D91pzN8CLj
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) April 24, 2026
We continued to create chances while nullifying any pressure from the visitors, and shortly after the second, we firmly put the tie to bed. Anna Soulsby was the goalscorer for real this time, and we required no replay to confirm that. A deft touch around the keeper, and a calm finish into the back of the net made it three!
A minute later, we were awarded a penalty and a chance to make it four. Emileigh Bowman stepped forward bravely, but her sharp low effort was saved at the bottom right corner. Anna Soulsby, soon after, was denied a brace following a stellar retreating dive from the keeper to tip her half-volley over the woodwork.
It was three-nil at the break.
We returned to the field with a job to do. Keep our composure, maintain control, and preserve our cleansheet.
The chances were tougher to come by in the early stages as Souths United played with more focus defensively. A few quick breakaways and some crafty moves from Mayu Kaneko caused danger, but nothing we couldn’t mitigate.
On the hour mark, Abbey Lloyd rifled a powerful effort shy of the bottom right corner after cutting across her defender, and a moment later, Tonia-Marie Rantucci was scythed down after beating her defender in the box.
Anna Soulsby stepped up to take the penalty this time, and extraordinarily, Imogen Graham made a diving save to palm her strike away from the top left corner and over the crossbar.
We tested the keeper a few more times, with Evelyn Calhoon threatening the back post with a deflected long-range strike, and Scarlett Premerl guiding a tight effort over the crossbar after a surging run down the right channel.
Mayu Kaneko threatened to pull one back for the visitors, skipping between two defenders to create space and beating Elli Chapple at close-range. Her effort hit the post.
We maintained our firm grip on the game, walking off the field with another strong victory. Ten goals to nil across our last three games. Seven cleansheets in eleven games. Brilliant stuff from Nic Whiteside and our NPL Women!
MATCH DETAILS:
NPL Women: Round 11
Lions FC 3 – 0 Souths Strikers
Goalscorers:
Evelyn Calhoon 5′
Abbey Lloyd 29′
Anna Soulsby 39′
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 | A marvellous performance tonight. It’s a third consecutive cleansheet, and another clear, structured, and vigorous showing 👏#HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/MPCsEyy0lo
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) April 24, 2026
