Brooke Johnston was the star-of-the-show as her second-half hat-trick helped Queens Park thump Beckenham Angels 3-0 and leapfrog them into second-place in the Bankwest Women’s State League Premier Division.

Report by Paul J. Laverty

The Angels had no answer to Johnston’s movement and power as she returned to the side following an eight-week injury lay-off to underline Queens Park’s credentials.

“I just wanted to try and do my bit for the team,” Johnston said. “To grab a hat-trick is a dream.”

On a day boasting near-perfect conditions for football there was little between the two sides during the first period with both defences coming out on top.

Johnston was working the Beckenham back-line hard but finding their keeper Stacey Cavill in fine form, as did teammate Stacey Learmont when her cross-turned-shot was expertly tipped onto the bar by the shot-stopper.

Beckenham also enjoyed periods of pressure with Jamie-Lee Gale unlucky on two occasions when she blasted over the bar from close range and then rounded Queens’ goalie Danelle Cornish only to drag the ball too far and out for a goal kick.

In the second-half the game came alive when Queens Park won a corner and Beckenham failed to clear their lines allowing Johnston to smash home.

The home-side should have gone further ahead soon after when Johnston turned provider and played in Learmont, who dragged her shot wide.

Queens Park then received a wake-up call when Janelle St. Pierre picked out Eleanor Bates at the back post only to see her looping shot go over the bar.

Queens Park regained control with Johnston nodding home from six metres following Courtney Owen’s corner to make it 2-0.

Beckenham were running out of legs and ideas, and had little answer to the energy and invention of Queens Park.

The Coker Park side almost sealed the points when Learmont neatly turned her marker on the edge of the box only to hit the ball the wrong side of the post.

However, she made amends moments later when her pass cut open the Beckenham defence allowing Johnston to coolly slot home for her third and secure the points.

Beckenham boss Jason Washington-King was pragmatic after the loss.

“They just played great, we didn’t,” said Washington-King, whose team plays the National Training Centre and Northern Redbacks in their next two games.

“It’s a tough competition… We can’t worry about this game, we’ve just got to move on.”

Queens Park coach Ben Anderton was also keen to look forward to next week’s top-of-the-table clash with Northern Redbacks.

“We’ll take confidence from this, we’ve had good success against Redbacks in our last two meets,” Anderton said.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but we’ll just keep working all week. It’s anyone’s league at the moment.”

Queens Park 3 (Brooke Johnston, 52min, 67, 79)
Beckenham Angels 0
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Coker Park
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Ian Fisher

Queens Park: 1. Danelle CORNISH, 3. Rebecca DICARLO, 5. Angelique STANNETT, 6. Monique GORDON, 7. Brittany WOODFIN, 8. Stacey LEARMONT, 9. Brooke JOHNSTON, 10. Nicole CAMPBELL, 11. Sadie LAWRENCE, 12. Alex DERCKSEN, 13. Georgie KENT, 14. Noi PUKKAEW, 15. Jessica DARMAGO, 16. Caitlyn BROOMHEAD, 22. Jaymee GIBBONS, 25. Courtney OWEN
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil

Beckenham Angels: 1. Stacey CAVILL, 2. Lindsey KENYON, 3. Annique KEISLER, 4. Jessica LINDQUIST, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Bronwyn CLARK,  7. Marianna TABAIN, 8. Jamie-Lee GALE, 9. Eleanor BATES, 10. Emily BRODERICK, 11. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 14. Penelope CLAYTON, 17. Janelle ST. PIERRE
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil