Fire Women Fine-Tune For Finals
Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Sam Attwood/Sunshine Coast FC
Peninsula Power Women face a must-win catch-up match after Samara Christmas led Sunshine Coast Women to a 1-0 victory at Kawana Sports Precinct on Sunday.
Christmas struck at the death to ensure Power require three points away to SWQ Thunder Women next Saturday if they are to leapfrog Olympic FC Women into the Finals Series.
The goal also means fifth-placed Fire head to UQFC Women in two weeks’ time on the back of a five-match unbeaten run.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring in the first minute when Christmas and Kayla Moore combined to draw a point-blank save from Power goalkeeper Jess Scicluna.
Brittany Whitfield issued a warning when she had a goal ruled out for offside while fellow Power attacker Brieanna Watt tried her luck without reward.
Shots continued to be traded at either end but both goalkeepers remained unbeaten at the break.
Fire midfielder Danielle White struck the bar from a cross shortly after the restart with Christmas also keeping Scicluna busy.
Kayla Moore and Sofie Persson likewise probed for the opener but it was left to Christmas to finally break the deadlock in the 86th minute.
The 19-year-old fired home her 22nd of the season from outside the area to capture a 13th win of the season for Dave Bensted’s side, and keep Power seventh ahead of their decisive trip to Toowoomba.
Speaking after the match, Fire coach Dave Bensted said he expects another whole-hearted effort in the upcoming Finals Series.
“It’s a reward for the girls, they’ve all worked so hard. We will go and enjoy it,” Bensted said.
Power striker Brittany Whitfield looked ahead to her team’s crucial last fixture.
“We’ve had some ups and downs but you can never doubt the girls’ effort. Hopefully we finish the season strongly against Thunder and see how we go from there,” Whitfield said.
Sunshine Coast FC Women 1 (Samara CHRISTMAS 86’)
Peninsula Power FC Women 0
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