Wonder goal helps seal draw
FOOTBALL: A Liz Hollitt masterclass and a Mel Lloyd wonder goal helped the SWQ Thunder women secure a draw at the weekend.
Eastern Suburbs peppered the Thunder goal in the first half, but Hollitt made a number of key saves to keep the scores locked 0-0 at the break.
Tessa Andujar eventually got the better of Hollitt in the 53rd but the best goal of the game was yet to come.
Taking the ball deep inside her own half Lloyd breezed past four Easts defenders before beating keeper Julia Duffy with a superbly placed strike from 35 yards out with less than a minute left in the game to seal a 1-1 draw.
The Thunder men also enjoyed a positive result, edging out Sunshine Coast FC 3-2.
Both teams created scoring opportunities in the first half with the visiting Sunshine Coast blowing two gilt edged chances from close range.
Thunder defender Brady Mason opened the scoring in the 59th minute tucking home the ball from close range, but the lead was short lived.
Daniel Bailey scored the first of his two goals in the 65th minute sparking a back and forward 15-minute period.
Jordan Howard put the Thunder in front in the 69th before striker Anthony Grant doubled their advantage just minutes later – scoring from close range after a brilliant run from Joe Scott.
Matthew Cann pulled one back for the visitors but the Thunder held on for the win.
Scott, who played a key role in two of the Thunder’s goals, was pleased with the way his team fought for the win.
“It’s always tough, they’re a good opposition,” he said.
“But we were able to grind it out and still get the three points which is great.
“It was really good work from the boys.
“We saw pretty quickly they were just going to play a lot of long balls, we just stuck to our brand of footy and in the end we pulled through.”
The Thunder have now gone five games unbeaten and team chemistry has played a key role in their performances.
“We’ve got a really good tight knit group this year,” Scott said.
“Everyone is happy and on the same page which makes it really easy to play.”