Edge Hill Utd cements strength in Kappa Women’s Super Cup win

Edge Hill United allayed any fears about how the horrendously disjointed draw would affect the powerhouse side in a dominant thrashing of Central Coast champions Clinton FC.

EDGE Hill United allayed any fears about how the horrendously disjointed draw would affect the powerhouse side in a dominant thrashing of Central Coast champions Clinton FC.

And now they have their sights set on NPL side Souths United on their way to a shot at glory in the Kappa Women’s Super Cup final.

“The girls are ecstatic,” captain Siobhan Macken said.

“We had a great night on Saturday to get through, but we don’t settle on the semi.

“We want to make it to the grand final.”

The Tigers embarked on the bunny hop trip to Gladstone, in which they split the squad in two and rode on a plane which stopped at Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton before another hour or so in a bus, as part of their mission to claim the newest piece of silverware up for grabs in Queensland football.

The statewide knockout tournament was introduced last year, and is the clear goal of a side which won the treble last season and is driven to add more trophies to the overflowing cabinet at Tiger Park.

There was concern about how the stop-start season, in which they have played just three FQPL FNG Women’s league and three Super Cup fixtures, would affect their fluency on both sides of the ball against an opponent which has dominated Central Coast, with more than 100 goals to their name this year alone.

But the Tigers did what the Tigers do best: play football, and with no mercy.

“We tried to maintain a level of intensity for the 90 minutes and even at half time with a big lead, we still said we don’t stop,” Macken said.

“We really just worked hard to take out the attacking talent they have.

“They’ve scored a few goals this year, and there are two players there who are integral to their success so we had to take them out of the game.”

That they did, with Macken, arguably the most prolific and lethal striker in regional Queensland, scoring a hat trick to take her season tally to 20 across all competitions.

Four others – Louise Fowler, Daphne Boyd-Tibbotts, Jo Whately and Olivia Gables – also earned their way on to the scoresheet.

There’s not much rest for the team, who will take on Stratford Dolphins in the FQPL on Wednesday night. Edge Hill Utd will be without as many as six regular starters for the contest, providing Stratford an opportunity to repeat the men’s side’s success and jag at least a point against the powerhouse club.

“It’s a really good chance for our younger and less experienced players to get time in the competition and show what they can do,” Macken said.

The Tigers have just under three weeks to prepare for Souths United, and one of the biggest challenges the club has faced in recent history.

HOW EDGE HILL UTD PREPARED

THE most dominant team in north Queensland football must overcome their lack of game time and absence of quality opposition when they take on Clinton in the Kappa Women’s Super Cup regional play-off in hostile territory on Saturday.

Edge Hill United are the defending treble champions, and have started the year in phenomenal fashion by not dropping a game.

And that is why captain Siobhan Macken has warned the first 20 minutes of the round 5 clash with Clinton will be so important.

“The two main things are how are going to challenge ourselves and implement what we need to do,” Macken said. “Our greatest challenge is going to be the mindset.

“We’re not used to the frequent challenges, we haven’t had a lot of practice in the mindset where we need to be settled and slowly build.

Edge Hill Utd leadership duo Ciara Fowler (left) and Siobhan Macken. Picture: Brian Cassey

“We struggled in Townsville (v MA Olympic) because we hadn’t had that practice of settling into a game.

“It was a bit chaotic, it took us some time to adjust, and that’s exactly what you don’t want.

“It’s about keeping everyone calm, and knowing they’re doing the jobs they need to do. That’s going to be the hardest part.”

It is the end of June and they have played just seven games across three competitions since completing the treble with a crushing win in the Crad Evans late last year.

They have been so dominant across FQPL Far North and Gulf Women’s and the League Cup that some officials have expressed concern about the future of the women’s competitions, and how the Tigers can be properly challenged.

Edge Hill United won the 2021 Crad Evans at Tiger Park. Picture: Emily Barker.

Their record is outstanding.

They are 3-0 in the FQPL with a stunning 47 goals, allowing just two, and won their two League Cup games by a combined 16-0 before a forfeit in the semi final sent them directly through to the inaugural tournament decider next month.

Edge Hill Utd beat Leichhardt 6-2 to earn the right to represent FNQ, then overcame their toughest challenge in recent memory by beating Townsville’s MA Olympic 4-3 to reach round 5 of the statewide knockout tournament.

When asked if finding suitable, regular competition was a reason to be concerned about the challenge they face in Clinton, Macken said the team had to find other avenues to best prepare.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful to the other clubs, a few have voiced that they’re rebuilding and lost a few players to uni. It happens at a bad time for us while we’re looking to challenge these top teams.

“We’ve played almost all of the teams at Edge Hill except the Premier Men’s to make sure we’re ready.

“Most frequently, the under-16s FQPL or Division 1 or 2 mens, they’re a good challenge as they’re much quicker, and some of them are twice the size of us.”

In Clinton, Edge Hill Utd will face a foe who is dominating the FQPL Central Coast competition and has scored more than 100 goals in 13 games across two competitions.

They have scored 65 goals and allowed just five in their nine FQPL games so far, and won their previous four Kappa Women’s Super Cup games by a combined 42-5.

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Originally published as Edge Hill Utd cements strength in Kappa Women’s Super Cup win