Top spot could change hands in the NPL Women’s this weekend with Round 22 set to deliver a Friday night thriller and a possible upset or two.
Catch every match live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.
Feature Match: Eastern Suburbs v Lions FC
Eastern Suburbs can close back to within three points of Lions FC when the teams meet in a must-see Friday fixture.
It will be a fourth home outing in five games for Easts and they will be hoping to improve on their past two Heath Park results, having been forced to settle for frustrating draws against Souths United and SWQ Thunder.
Those slip-ups have seen them lose ground on the top two and there are now six points separating Michael Cook’s side and leaders Lions, who cruised to a 4-0 victory over QAS last weekend.
Mariel Hecher and ex-Easts star Tegan Riding grabbed two goals apiece to give the reigning Premiers and Champions a third consecutive victory since the restart.
Despite their blistering form, Lions can ill afford any errors with Gold Coast United keeping chase.
Returning to Richlands empty-handed could cost them top spot and would invite Easts back into the race for first.
Match Details
Eastern Suburbs v Lions FC
Friday, 14 August, 8:30pm
Heath Park
Other Matches to Watch:
SWQ Thunder v Gold Coast United
Could there be an upset brewing at Clive Berghofer Stadium this Saturday?
Second-placed Gold Coast will hope not as they aim to keep the pressure on Lions by extending their undefeated streak to seven matches.
Caution should still be applied because Thunder look like an improving side after impressively securing successive away draws against QAS and Easts.
Home ground advantage will be in their favour and with Mel Lloyd scoring solo goals like the one that stunned Easts, the Toowoomba team appear poised to cause chaos.
Match Details
SWQ Thunder v Gold Coast United
Saturday, 15 August, 3:30pm
Clive Berghofer Stadium
Moreton Bay United v Souths United
After a tough start to the season, Moreton Bay United might be about to turn the corner.
The Jets are still yet to register a point in 2020 but each of their seven games have been against teams currently ranked inside the top six.
Souths United sit seventh on the table with one win and two draws and, while far from easybeats, Moreton Bay could well view this home match as a chance to get off the mark.
Last season’s Wolter Park encounter produced an entertaining 2-2 draw and another close contest looks to be on the cards.
Match Details
Moreton Bay United v Souths United
Sunday, 16 August, 5:00pm
Wolter Park
Other Round 22 Matches:
QAS v Logan Lightning
Saturday, 15 August, 6:00pm
Meakin Park
The Gap v Mitchelton FC
Sunday, 16 August, 4:00pm
Walton Bridge Reserve
Players to Watch:
Tegan Riding (Lions FC): The prolific former Easts ace heads into Friday’s clash against her old club in typically lethal form, having already hit nine goals this season – second only to The Gap’s Laini Freier.
Liz Hollitt (SWQ Thunder): If Thunder are to thwart a strong Gold Coast side come Saturday, their talented and in-form goalkeeper will have an important part to play.
Anna Margraf (Logan Lightning): Young midfielder Margraf, a Grand Final winner in 2018, was a key signing for Lightning during the hiatus and she could line up against some former team-mates when her new club makes the short trip to face QAS at Meakin Park on Saturday.
Image: Ian Judd/Lions FC