Lockley holds key
A BLOSSOMING partnership with fellow teen Sarah Skinner is helping Mudgeeraba striker Jemima Lockley find her feet as an NPL Women’s goalscoring force.
The attacking alliance of Lockley (two goals) and Skinner (five goals) has been a bright spot in the Wallabies’ rollercoaster campaign, which continues with tonight’s Round 8 battle with Easts at Coorparoo.
While 11th-placed Mudgeeraba will enter the 6pm clash on the back of a 5-2 loss at home to Michelton, Lockley, 19, is riding a form wave that has produced goals in her last two appearances.
Having arrived at the club in 2004, she admits the NPLW has been a step up from the Gold Coast Premier League but said the presence of Lismore product Skinner had been calming.
“We work well together and we’re only improving,” the Mudgeeraba resident said.
“I think she’s a good player and we’re just getting better the more games we play. It doesn’t matter who scores, if the ball’s in the back of the net,
we’re happy. I think we’re all comfortable (playing together) now because we all want success and are pretty passionate. We’re gelling a lot better.”
After opening the season with three-straight losses, the Wallabies’ two-game unbeaten run was brought to an end with last week’s Mitchelton defeat.
While a gap has opened up between the top four and the chasing pack, Lockley said there was still hope for David Thompson’s side.
Eighth-placed Gold Coast United could climb as high as fifth with victory away to unbeaten The Gap at 6pm today.
United’s men remain 11th on the ladder despite beating North Queensland United last week, and play Mackay and Whitsundays at Slacks Creek at 7pm.