Jade Parris scored the fiftieth Lotto Northern Premier Women's League goal of her career as she inspired Eastern Suburbs to a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Three Kings United in a typically compelling tussle between these well-matched sides at Keith Hay Park on April 14. "The Lilywhites" enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, Tayla O'Brien's measured fifth minute cross for Ella Russ inviting the youngster to shoot, but a poor touch allowed Genevieve Ryan to avert the danger. Three minutes later, Parris and O'Brien worked a one-two on the right before the former threaded a pass through for the impressively performed Emily Gillion - her off-the-ball movement throughout was particularly eye-catching. On this occasion, she shot straight at Rivalina Fuimaono, who was left helpless sixty seconds later as an improvised lob by O'Brien was anticipated by Parris, whose deft first-time chip beat the 'keeper all ends up, only to drift just past the post. Another Parris effort was grabbed by Fuimaono in the thirteenth minute, after Kate Seatter and O'Brien had prised open the United defence. The goalkeeper's throw-out allowed the home team to mount their first attack of note in the contest, with Caitlin Pritchard playing the ball forward towards Tessa Leong. Her astute dummy left Petra Buyck with yards of space in which to gallop down the left, from where she fired in a cross beyond Maisy Dewell and into the stride of Alosi Bloomfield, who was storming forward from midfield. Her shot was well saved low to her left by Corina Brown. Suburbs' custodian was called upon again in the eighteenth minute after Leong had caught Megan Robertson in possession. No sooner had the striker scooted through towards goal then Brown was hurtling out of her penalty area to clear the ball off her toes - terrific anticipation by the best 'keeper in the league to thwart one of the competition's most prolific markswomen. Halfway through the first half, Suburbs should have opened the scoring. Parris and Seatter combined to send O'Brien surging through the inside-right channel, with just Fuimaono to beat. That she failed to owed much to the 'keeper, whose save with her legs saw the ball rebound to Parris, whose snapshot fizzed past the post. Back came United, Emma Leaming's throw-in to Bloomfield seeing the midfielder burst past Kate Carlton before delivering a cross which had Leong's name written all over it. Brown had other ideas, however, bravely intervening at the striker's feet to ensure the deadlock would remain. But not for long. On the half-hour, United opened the scoring. Leaming sent Leong careering down the left - the third time the home team had exploited this chink in Suburbs' defensive armour. This time, it proved crucial, for Leong made a beeline for the by-line before whipping in a perfectly flighted cross which had the beating of Brown but was made to measure for Bloomfield to guide a cushioned close-range volley into the roof of the net - 1-0 United, and due reward for the midfielder, who had an outstanding game. The home team were dealt a blow soon afterwards with the injury-enforced departure of Jessie Mathews - she certainly cops more than her fair share of such setbacks, make no mistake. New United recruit Lily Taitimu stepped up her game in her captain's absence, and six minutes before half-time delivered a free-kick which picked out Bloomfield, whose header - the last chance of the half - was gratefully grabbed by Brown. Suburbs came out for the second spell all guns blazing. Within two minutes of the resumption of play, Lucy Carter played a perfectly weighted pass down the right to the by-line for Parris to fizz in a first-time cross to the far post. O'Brien was the target, but Taitimu intervened, heading the ball out to Carter. Her shot, by her standards, was poor, unlike that of Leong two

minutes later. Upon receipt of a pass from the hard-charging Bloomfield, the striker evaded a challenge before thrashing a thirty-yarder narrowly past the far upright. "The Lilywhites" drew level in the 52nd minute, Parris punishing the first of a number of unnecessarily physical Three Kings challenges - referee Brandon Day policed these well, but could have booked a couple of the offenders - in the best manner possible, fair smashing a twenty-five yard free-kick into the top far corner of the net to the delight of her team-mates. Three Kings never recovered. Within two minutes, Leah Mettam sent O'Brien down the left, where she and Ryan enjoyed a great tussle for the ball. The striker eventually won the day, then worked a one-two with Russ before lashing a shot past the near post. Fuimaono grabbed a Parris free-kick struck from thirty yards out in the 55th minute, but when the pair saw the whites of each other's eyes at close quarters four minutes later, it was the goalkeeper who blinked, and Suburbs were swiftly celebrating. The fiftieth Premier Women's League goal of Parris' career owed so much to Gillion. Dashing onto Carlton's ball forward, the midfielder forced her way past Pritchard but was initially foiled by the covering figure of Shivi Anthony. Gillion wasn't to be denied, however, cleverly outfoxing the defender on the by-line before picking out Parris at the near post, where a deft flick found Fuimaono clutching at CO2 as the ball bulged the net behind her - 2-1 Suburbs. Carter and Gillion both chanced their arm from distance inside the next ten minutes before Brown's ball forward was flicked on by O'Brien for Russ, who got the better of Ryan before drawing a smothering save from Fuimaono. United's 'keeper was beaten for a third time in the 76th minute, and this time the goalscorer turned provider. Receiving a pass from Carter, Parris controlled the ball neatly before splitting the defence with a pass which sent O'Brien scything through the inside-right channel once more. Where in the first half she had been foiled by Fuimaono, this time there was no mistake, the striker lifting the ball over the approaching 'keeper, who got her hands to it but couldn't prevent O'Brien from breaking a personal goalscoring drought - her first goal since 2017 signaling the end of her year-long injury nightmare is imminent. Parris and O'Brien combined to set up Gillion for a first-time shot soon after - Fuimaono was equal to the task - before Brown and Robertson received a sideline scolding from coach Mauro Donoso, following a mix-up between the two which resulted in a corner. Leong miscued her delivery, but it deceived Brown and resulted in an almighty scramble which Suburbs survived. Soon after, a powerful run down the left by Leaming resulted in a cross which Bloomfield intended to head home on the far post, only for Brown to punch the ball to safety and end any hopes Three Kings harboured of mounting a late fightback. Suburbs' come-from-behind win maintained their perfect start to the season, and set them up for the Good Friday showdown at the home of the reigning champions and fellow early season frontrunners Glenfield Rovers. United, meanwhile, are looking forward to the day when they can field their full-strength side - a third of their squad is presently sidelined or impacted in some way by illness or injury, so you can expect them to improve as the season progresses. United:          Fuimaono; Ryan, Anthony (Martin, 78), Pritchard, Leaming; Bloomfield, Taitimu (Tinsley, 88), Mathews (Duncan, 34); Dewell, Leong, Buyck Suburbs:     Brown; Carlton, Robertson, Van Dort, Mettam; Gillion, Seatter, Carter; O'Brien (Ramsay, 81), Parris, Russ Referee:     Brandon Day