Star Striker Laura Davis hit the back of the net twice and the Kingborough Lions secured a 3-1 win over Ulverstone in the opening game of the Women's Super League season.
Facing the long trip to the coast to kick things off, the Lions had the better of the early going and pulled ahead via Davis midway through the first half. An under hit back pass from Emily Nellis put Georgia Anderson under pressure and despite reaching the ball first, she cleared it straight into Davis and saw the ball fall perfectly for the Lions striker who stroked home the opener.
The Lions came close to scoring on a couple of other occasions in the first half, but Anderson was strong when called upon as the hosts managed to head into the break with the game still in the balance at 1-0.
Davis was then given the chance to double her tally from the spot early in the second half, when Amy Ollington was brought down by Courtney Hingston as she charged into the box.
Davis made no mistake from 12 yards, slamming her spot kick home into the bottom corner and giving the Lions the two goal cushion their play had deserved.
Fifteen year old Kate Bonertz-Benn then scored her maiden WSL goal and the goal of the day to put the result beyond doubt with a wonderful strike from outside the box that rocketed top corner and gave the keeper no chance. It made it 3-0 and slammed shut any hope of a Reds come back.
Ulverstone didn't give up the ghost however and worked hard to the end, eventually pulling one back via new signing Mikalha Georg, who netted a consolation marker for the Reds with a clever first time finish from a nicely curled in cross from Shelby Aitken.
The Lions walked away the winners though and started their season in perfect fashion with three points on the road and a confidence boosting performance.
https://youtu.be/geRsG7_H_bY