United down Jets to signal final’s intentions

Dee Thompson celebrates her goal against Moreton Bay with Paige Taylor (Sportspics)

 

How fitting that the Gold Coast United Women topped off the club’s inaugural Pink Day with a 1-0 win over the second placed Moreton Bay United at Coplicks on Sunday, their last regular season home game, to signal their finals intentions.

After recently defeating the then third placed Capalaba away, the win over the Jets lifts United in to a share of third place with last year’s Premiers, The Gap Football Club. United have the opportunity to continue their fine form when they travel to Richlands this Saturday night to take on the 2019 Premiers, Lions FC, in their last regular season match for 2019.

And with a chance to play a National Premier Leagues final match at home, the Women will be focused on another solid team showing to fire a warning shot over the bow of the other final’s contenders that they are running in to some good form at the right time.

 

 

Wins like this come off the back of a team effort and this one certainly stands out as one of the Women’s most complete team performances of season 2019.

A coaching masterclass from United’s Technical Director, Craig Midgley and his assistant Alex Bundalo, had United ready to nullify the Jets’ threats and take advantage of the few chances that would come United’s way going forward.

Against a side that includes former Gold Coast United striker Meg McElligott (now a W-League player with Canberra United) and a long list of other heavy hitters in the NPLW Queensland competition, defence was always going to be the key. And defend they did, as a unit, good shape, together.

 

At the back the central defenders were huge, again. The long and the short of it is that Captain Ellie Fryer and her counterpart, Momo Hayashi have forged one of the most solid centre back pairings in the league. Can tackle, can carry it forward and can ping it long.  With the experienced Joy Forsyth and Britt Hargreaves (GK) among United’s back five, defensively United were rock solid working in tandem with the skipper and Momo.

 

And what about the teenagers that featured – Anabelle Gibson, Bronti Hodgkinson, Paige Taylor and Ryleigh Saunderson – some big minutes, some big moments and some big contributions.

 

With everyone doing their job at the back and the midfield well led by the ‘little general’, Rie Kitano, opportunities would come for United’s attackers including the in-form Northern Rivers duo Zoe Corbett and Hollie Jarrett, both flourishing in the back end of the season.

 

It was left to top scorer Deeanna Thompson to take the chance in the 60th minute to score the decisive goal, her 18th for the season, after a perfectly weighted pass from the ever-present Mackenzie Akins pierced the Jets defensive line and Thompson used her pace to get in behind and create enough space to shoot.

 

One downside from the match was the early knee injury that forced the midfield tyro Jayde Lowe from the field. All the best for a speedy and full recovery Jayde.

 

You can watch the highlights from the match at this link

http://bit.ly/GCUvMBUWomenRd25NPLW

 

A solid team effort from the Women who defeated Moreton Bay United 1-0 at home on Pink Day 2019 (Sportspics)

 

United’s next match

Women’s National Premier Leagues Queensland Round 26

Lions v Gold Coast United

Lions Stadium

Saturday 31st of August 2019

Kick-off at 4.45pm