NPLW Round #4: Inseparable on the night

A LATE EQUALISER CONDEMNED US AS MITCHELTON MADE IT 4-4 IN STOPPAGE TIME

End-to-end action saw our Lionesses held in a thrilling draw against Mitchelton in our first away game of the 2024 campaign.

The first five minutes foreshadowed the structure of this match, with the hosts surging into an early lead minutes after kicking off. Lauren Bonavita was the scorer, bursting into the box unmarked and picking the bottom right corner.

Before the tenth minute, Molly Simonson had equalised. A last-minute addition to replace Tara O’Keeffe before kick-off, Simonson scored her first goal in Lions colours after recovering possession in the final third before weaving into the box and picking the right side-netting with composure.

Chances were shared between both sides for the duration of the first half until Amy Gunston stepped up, as she so often has, and found the back of the net on the edge of half-time. A powerful run down the left flank before rifling home at the near post. Our Lions entered the second half with the advantage.

An unfortunate mistimed clearance resulted in an own-goal against our Lions Women just two minutes into the second half, but Tui Dugan made sure we didn’t suffer for too long.

An expansive collective counterattack starting from an Emily Clark throw ended with Dugan slotting home at the back post to break the stalemate. Emily Clark made several crucial saves as our Lions Women fought for a crucial goal to extend our lead.

It didn’t come. Four minutes from stoppage time, and a foul-ignored ended with Lauren Bonavita hooking home a late equaliser. In a wild end to the match, Amy Gunston thought she had the winner, taking responsibility by tackling an exposed keeper on the by-line before turning on the line and placing an arcing cross into the top right corner from the left. She effectively scored an Olympic, and it was marvellous.

Unfortunately, the euphoric scenes of Amy’s would-be winner were quashed in the second minute of stoppage time. Kallie Peurifoy fired home Mitchelton’s fourth to level the scores and condemn us to a draw.