Thunder finally gets first NPLQ win
FOOTBALL: It may have been a long time coming but the South-West Thunder’s first win of the season must have felt sweet.
Defeating its closest National Premier Leagues Queensland rivals Western Pride 2-1 was the perfect medicine for what has been a tough period for the club.
“It was always going to be a tough thing when you play Western Pride,” Thunder assistant coach Mick Turvey said.
“It is a local derby and it was always going to be a tough battle, not pretty soccer but when we play each other it is about who wants to roll up their sleeves.”
A Tom Fanning penalty in the final minute of the game ensured Thunder would collect three points, and bragging rights, in dramatic fashion.
With its first win now out of the way, the Thunder are now looking at what the rest of the season has in store for them.
New coach Francesco Zanoncelli is now starting to see results after taking over at the beginning of April.
His assistant Turvey said that there is still time to right some early wrongs with the half-way point in the season approaching.
“We are looking at the second round now where we have the chance to put a few things right,” he said.
“Francesco wants to start building a good foundation for next season now but the goal is to do better than we did last season.
“Those boys beat us twice last year so we already achieved something, it is a great confidence booster.”
The Thunder now go into a flurry of home games with the tide turning in its favour.
The Thunder women have endured a tougher weekend.
A 1-0 loss to Souths United was the first time this season the free-scoring Thunder failed to net a goal.
With the scores at 0-0 at half-time, it took a Deeanna Thompson strike to settle the game as the usually-prolific Thunder front-line failed to fire after what has been a purple
patch in front of goal over the last few weeks.
The result puts the Thunder back in seventh on the ladder with two wins and three losses from its five games played.