THE Northern Storm have literally stormed into finals contention with a resounding 5-1 comeback over the Orara Valley Dingoes in the Women’s Premier League on Friday night.
It was far from smooth sailing early, as the Dingoes drew first blood after just seven minutes when Kalla Linsley pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard area to hand Orara a surprise lead.
The Storm weathered the early blow and responded in style.
Midfielder Liana Hall levelled the scores with a stunning free kick, curling it into the top corner to make it 1-1.
Not long after, Pippa Koelmeyer turned the match on its head, bursting through Orara’s backline and calmly slotting home to give the Storm a 2-1 lead at the break.
There was no letting up in the second half.
The Storm piled on three more goals to seal a dominant 5-1 victory – a result that lifts them to fifth on the ladder and within striking distance of a top-four finish and a place in the finals.
With seven points to their name, the Storm now sit just two behind the fourth-placed Woolgoolga Wildcats.
Boambee remain the pace-setters on 23 points, with Urunga (20 points, two games in hand) and the Coffs United Lionesses (17) rounding out the runaway top three.
By David WIGLEY