Easts' Finals Hope Still Alive After Entertaining Win Over Logan

Eastern Suburbs 2 (Jeffery 68', Griffiths 88') Logan Lightning 1 (Petterwood 72') HT: 0-0 Played at Heath Park

Eastern Suburbs kept their slim hopes of making the finals alive with an entertaining 2-1 win over highly fancied Logan Lightning at Heath Park on Saturday evening.

A tight game came to life with an hour already played when Easts won a free kick wide on the right which Jody Sullivan swung in for Fern Jefferey to rise in a crowded pack and head home a bullet from inside the six yard box.

It was a fair representation of the flow of the game but four minutes later Tiarne Petterwood, who had largely been kept quiet, was in the right place to take possession from a turnover and drive home past two defenders from 40 metres out.

The Tigers could easily have given up the ghost but when the opportunity presented itself, Sullivan cracked a free kick which Keeley Richards brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar only to land at the feet of Kate Griffiths who secured the victory with a tap-in into the open goal.

For the neutral, it was an intriguing contest as both teams, who met only last weekend, prodded and poked each other tactically with some enthralling contests around the park, none more so than Danielle Van Kol and Melissa Pannetta getting the honours in their vital match-up against Petterwood and Zoe Howlett.

Anything but a win tonight and the season was over for the home side with too much ground to make up through games in hand, and it showed as they were second best in the major statistics but emerged victorious through a doggedness in contested possessions, a sure sign that mental motivation had a hand in their performance.

With a probable loss to Mitchelton on the horizon in the last round, this defeat takes on special significance for Lightning who will more than likely give up fourth place in the league to Peninsula Power if they lose next weekend away at Pine Hills.

Neither coach is likely to be satisfied with the performances tonight, despite the absorbing contest, as both teams poor passing accuracy often contributed to the midfield congestion.

In the Reserves, Griffiths scored twice for Easts whilst Tammi Baskett and Gabriella Francisco were on target for Logan as the Tigers ensured an unbeaten afternoon with a 2-2 draw, also keeping their slim finals hopes alive.

Coach Remarks:

Luke Pauza (Eastern Suburbs): "Proud of the girls tonight. They stood up when it mattered and I thought we deserved the win." Jimmy Hodsdon (Logan Lightning): "Full credit to Easts. They played good football but it was a disappointing night for us. We weren't at our best."

FB Media Player Of The Match: Amy Moore (Eastern Suburbs).

Moore came desperately close to scoring her first goal when she hit the post in the 22nd minute and also looked dangerous pushing forward behind the strikers.

FB Media Match Stats:

Overall Possession: 54% - 46% Shots on target: 4 - 7 Shots off target: 9 - 5 Shots off woodwork: 0 - 2 Corners: 8 - 5 Free kicks: 14 - 4 Penalties: 0 - 0 Offsides: 1 - 1 Yellow cards: 0 - 1 Red cards: 0 - 0