Lions FC 8 (Hecher 8′; Riding 14′, 15′, 52′, 85′; Schiavo 20′, 23′; Harch 54′)
SWQ Thunder 0
HT 5-0
Tegan Riding enjoyed another fruitful day at the office netting four times against SWQ Thunder to take her tally for the season to 13 in 6 games.
It was another dominant display by Lions as they retained their 100% record at Lions Stadium as the hosts fielded a changed starting eleven for this RD8 encounter due to a couple of injuries.
Riding thought she’d opened the scoring on two minutes when guiding the ball in from the edge of the box when Mariel Hecher slid the ball across to the Lions striker, but the assistants’s flag was up on what seemed a legitimate goal.
It wasn’t long though before the hosts did take the lead with Riding adding to her impressive statistic of assists, laying the ball off to Hecher who’s powerful drive evaded Thunder keeper Elizabeth Hollitt.
Riding didn’t have to wait too long before adding her name to the score sheet when just before the quarter hour mark, her well timed run saw her pick up a precise through ball which she fired in from the edge of the box. The assistant’s flag was up again but this time the referee over ruled it and the goal stood.
Riding took just another minute to get her second in what was a carbon copy of her first. A defence splitting through ball putting the Lions striker one on one with Hollitt and making no mistake from the edge of the box.
Pippa Schiavo, making a start for this clash, produced a superb strike on 20 minutes to make it 4-0 with a 25 yard strike that looped over Hollitt into the top corner and three minutes later Schiavo added to her tally following a good build up that started with Riding crossing to the far side of the box for Tanesha Stanley who then laid the ball back for Schiavo to find the back of the net from near the penalty spot.
Lions had a few more chances to extend their lead before the half time whistle ended a totally dominant opening period for the home side.
The dominance continued as the second half got underway. Riding forcing Hollitt into a fine save early on.
The hosts put the game to bed soon after with Stanley’s effort parried away by Hollitt, but Riding was quick to react, sliding in on the loose ball and guiding it over the line for a 6-0 lead.
Another superb strike saw Lions go 7-0 up shortly before the hour, when Lana Harch stole the ball in the middle of the park, made her way to the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike that whistled past Hollitt who was off her line.
The hosts then seemed to take their foot of the pedal allowing Thunder to enjoy their first real period of possession and opportunities.
Caitlyn Stocker fired over when well placed which was shortly followed by a free kick on the edge of the box which saw Sarah Sheridan’s effort drift just over the top corner of the goal with Lions keeper Katie Dale stranded.
Thunder’s best effort came midway through the half when Louise Rolfe’s strike for just outside the box skipped off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
With time running out, Lions returned from their mid-half slumber and began to take control again.
Kate Morton with a good opportunity that saw Hollitt gather the ball in the six yard box before Riding grabbed her final goal of the evening with 5 minutes remaining. Stanley cutting the ball back to the edge of the box where Riding took a neat first touch and found a gap between three Thunder defenders to hit a low drive into the bottom corner.
The powerful striker nearly got a fifth just before the end but her shot glanced off the upright.
It was another rewarding result for the Lionesses who keep the pressure on their rivals at the top of the NPLW ladder.
It was an even more rewarding night for Jordan Franke, facing her former team mates as well her sister Madison in this encounter.
A break over Easter awaits next weekend before RD9 commences the following weekend with an away trip to lowly Mudgeeraba.
Joe’s Comments:
“We had a few injuries which forced us to bring some of our subs in and they did a good job, especially Giverny Kenman who’s one of our youngest players.”
“Again, it’s our defence that gives us the opportunity to move forward. When your foundations are solid, you can build on it and our back four did a really good job.”
“The challenge today was to get three points and keep a clean sheet and we did that, and with us winning so many games, our focus is to keep them challenged, keep them motivated, to control the game and we did that. We got the three points and I’m please with that.”
Team line-ups:
Lions FC:
Dale (gk), Franke, Morton, Horsey, Riley, Hechar, Riding, Schiavo, Stanley, Harch, Kenman.
Subs: Hepburn (rgk), Jamieson, Hogg, Maggio, Disavia.
SWQ Thunder:
Hollitt (gk), Franke, Brown, Fry, Sheridan, Rolfe, Stocker, Jackson, Lloyd, Berlin, Maior.
Subs: Styler, Wyvill, Doro, Grant.
