Undefeated Lions FC have stormed to the top of the NPLW Queensland table after prevailing in an eight-goal thriller over Logan Lightning on Saturday night.
The defending Premiers and Champions saw off a stubborn Lightning side that twice levelled terms at their Cornubia Park home patch in the top-of-the table clash to prevail 5-3.
Amy Gunston led the returns for the visitors with a second half brace, while Jess Dillon, Tegan Riding and Mariel Hecher also got on the score sheet.
The result puts Rob Askew’s Lions one point clear atop the NPLW Queensland standings, but they could cede the position before the end of the round with fellow high-flyers Gold Coast United and The Gap FC to play on Sunday.
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The high-pressing Lions asserted themselves on the contest early but it was the hosts that saw the first clear-cut chance when American attacker Natalia Pinkney rounded the goalkeeper but saw her subsequent shot cleared by the retreating Meisha Westland.
Gunston began to threaten after the quarter hour as she headed wide, but on 27 minutes the visitors were gifted the opener from the penalty spot when Katie McDonald hand-balled in the box – Jess Dillon tucking the resulting spot-kick into the bottom corner for her first goal in Lions colours.
The Lightning regrouped and equalised in the 37th minute as Lions paid the price for an error of their own when goalkeeper Noran Abaza hit her attempted clearance straight at Tiarne Petterwood, who promptly steered the ball forward for the heavily marked Shea Connors to craftily tuck away the leveller.
Logan spurned the chance to go ahead shortly after as the early season goal machine Pinkney blazed high and wide from a promising position prior to half-time.
The tempo slowed immediately after the restart as a patient Lions increasingly dictated the play.
It paid dividends on prior to the hour when the visitors edged ahead again through Gunston as she opened her account with a close-range finish after being picked out at the back post by Riding’s cross.
However, it only served to spur on Lightning as Peterwood headed over the bar at point blank range immediately from the restart.
They didn’t dwell on the miss though as Connors tucked away her second in the 56th minute – breaking through one-on-one on the back of Lions defensive error and converting with a composed finish.
Soon the chances were coming thick and fast as Hecher fizzed an effort just over the crossbar for Lions, before an errant pass from the Lightning in their own half presented for Riding.
The former Adelaide United and Canberra United player latched on to the loose ball and then converted with a pin-point low finish to put the Lions ahead for the third time in the 65th minute.
Despite further nervous moments at the back, this time the visitors would not let their advantage slip.
On 78 minutes they doubled their advantage when Gunston netted her second of the contest – again picked out by a Riding from the right and putting away a well-placed finish.
The Lightning found a lifeline just two minutes later as Meaghan Mcelligott drove a firm strike past Abaza from the top of the box.
However, it would prove to be the host’s last stand as the Lions dominated the closing exchanges.
They wrapped it up with a minute remaining in regular time as Hecher – who spurned a gilt-edged chance just minutes earlier - netted with a diving back post header.
The result marks a first defeat of the season for the Lightning, while the Lions are without defeat from four matches this season as they plot their title defence.
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