Words: Matt Dorman, Brisbane Roar
Image: Nick Crockford, Moreton Bay United

An inspired four-goal haul from Charles Mendy guided Moreton Bay United to a 5-3 win over Brisbane Roar NYL at Perry Park on Saturday night.

Mendy struck a first half hat-trick before adding his side’s fifth and sealing goal after the break as the visitors moved to within six points of first place in the standings.

Mendy was productive from the outset and came close to opening his account in only the second minute when he ran on to Royce Brownlie’s clever pass, but the Frenchman slid his finish past the upright.

It didn’t take long for Mendy to atone when on 17 minutes he latched on to a direct pass from midfield and controlling smartly before by lashing a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Just three minutes later the forward doubled his side’s lead, displaying lightning pace to by beat advancing Roar goalkeeper Denver Crickmore to the ball and finishing skilfully from an awkward angle.

Roar’s youngsters should have equalised seconds before the half hour but Yandi Munawar was unable to beat Luke Borean in a one-on-one, though a minute later Sam Sibatuara went one better.

The winger produced an exceptional individual goal to bring his side back into the contest, drifting in from the left and dribbling at the heart of the Jets defence before finishing neatly inside the bottom corner.

Despite the confidence-boosting goal, Roar conceded again prior eight minutes from the break from a free-kick.

Jets’ Jared Austin swung in a threatening ball that evaded Crickmore, resulting in a goal mouth scramble at the far post that Mendy poked home for a 3-1 halftime advantage.

The action continued nine minutes after the restart when league leading goalscorer Royce Brownlie extended the Jets’ advantage to three – smashing home his shot from a freekick.

The stream of goals continued when four minutes later Munawar replied for Roar – drifting in to the penalty area and guiding a tidy header beyond Borean into the corner of the goal.

Brownlie was becoming more dangerous after the hour as he looked to add to his tally, but the former Queensland Roar man settled for an assist in the 69^th minute – shifting the ball across the face of goal to tee up Mendy, who drilled a stunning fourth inside the near post.

Roar substitute Abrham Yango, on the pitch for less than three minutes, produced a goal courtesy of Luke Pavlou’s defence-splitting through ball – the former QAS player gliding past Borean to finish into an unguarded goal.

Jeff Hopkins’ side maintained a high tempo to the end as they tried to further reduce the margin but could ultimately make no further impression on the scoreline.

Brisbane Roar NYL 3 (Sam SIBATUARA 30’, Yandi MUNAWAR 58’, Abraham YANGO 74’)
Moreton Bay Jets 5 (Charles MENDY 17’, 20’, 37’, 69’, Royce BROWNLIE 54’)