Thunder remains focused

NPLQW side determined to build on positive result

FOOTBALL: A week can be a long time in football.

Fresh and eager after a lengthy COVID-19 enforced break, the South West Queensland Thunder faced NPLQW powerhouse Lions FC two weeks ago.

Lions were brutally efficient in the first half, scoring six unanswered goals before going on to secure a 7-1 victory.

“It was a tough first half,” Thunder skipper Mel Lloyd said.

“Lions are a very good team though, they’re capable of doing that against any team in the competition.

“Our second half was a lot better.

“We talked at halftime about what we wanted to do.

“Did we want to give in and let them run over us or did we want to fight.

“We had a good honest talk and set ourselves the goal of winning or at least drawing the second half of the game.

“Our second half was a lot better and we took a lot confidence out of it.”

That confidence carried over into last weekend’s match against the QAS with the Thunder recording a 1-1 draw.

“A big part of that result was mental, our attitude,” Lloyd said,

“We took a lot of confidence, a lot of belief into the game and it showed.

“It’s no secret Liz (Hollitt) had an absolute blinder in goal but I think the whole team deserves some credit.

“They (QAS) could’ve scored four or five goals and it’s the type of game we could’ve dropped in the past.

“We have a few more senior players in the side now, girls with experience at this level and it shows.”

The Thunder face another perennial powerhouse in Eastern Suburbs and Lloyd is hopeful of another positive performance.

“The goal is to take the confidence we have built against Lions and QAS into our next game,” she said.

“At the same time we have to be realistic though.

“They’ve always been a good time and they’ve recruited some great players.

“We have to make sure we stayed switched on for as long as possible, don’t drop our heads and play as team.”

The second placed Thunder men are at home to Sunshine Coast Fire this weekend in their FQPL match.

Unbeaten in their last five games the side will be keen to get back on the winner’s list after a 2-2 draw with the Logan Lightning.