Words: Michael Flynn, Brisbane City
Image: Mark Boyd, Brisbane City

A second half hat-trick from Ken Dougall saw Brisbane City fight back from a goal down at half-time to overrun last-placed South West Queensland Thunder 5-1 at Spencer Park on Sunday.

Agoth Tong gave the visitors an unlikely lead early in the contest, before Alistair Pase’s second-half equaliser was followed up by Dougall’s three goal haul and a late strike to Daniel Sharov to seal the four goal margin.

Played in blustery conditions, the hosts controlled the opening of the match but failed to create a clear-cut scoring opportunity despite dominating early possession.

On nine minutes, Thunder struck against the run of play as Tong slipped in behind the high City line – the Under 20’s regular venturing wide before finishing on an acute angle in only his second senior appearance.

The hosts sought a reply immediately as Nick Buckley combined with Luca Perico on the edge of the area to draw a fumbled save from Thunder custodian Jace Hudson.

Chances were proving hard to come by as strong wind gusts and a shoddy surface played havoc with both sides’ delivery - Perico and Biggins shooting wide from a pair of free-kicks as a dour first half drew to a close.

The match proved more lively in the second stanza as Thunder’s Ryan Ensor drew a low, full-stretched save from City goalkeeper Matt Stein soon after the restart.

City strived hard to restore parity but Thunder’s defence was proving up to task prior to the hour – denying Biggins in a goal mouth scramble and deflecting shots from Cameron Tew and Nathan Bird wide of goal.

Buckley headed wide from a set-piece before teeing up the equaliser with a cutback to Dougall – the midfielder’s initial strike denied by a sharp reflex save from Hudson that allowed Pase to slide in at the far post for his first goal of the season.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, the hosts then overran the hapless Thunder – adding four further goals in a blistering final thirty minutes.

Deployed in an experimental forward role, Perico saw his 67th minutes strike ruled out for offside before Dougall gave City the lead a minute later with a deflected strike from the top of the box.

Pase threatened further – heading just over the bar from a corner kick – before being brought down by Benjamin Watt and allowing Dougall to extend the advantage from the penalty spot.

Tong toiled hard to draw a save from Stein on the counter for Thunder but it proved only a fleeting respite as Dougall stylishly sealed his haul with five minutes remaining.

Claiming possession from an aimless Thunder clearance, the centre midfielder shifted the ball wide before receiving a return pass at the top of the box, delivering a neat drag-back to shake defender Nathan Knox then curling his strike home off the underside of the crossbar.

The hosts iced the result in the final minute of regular time as Dougall waltzed through the dispirited Thunder defence to tee up substitute Daniel Sharov for an angled finish.

The win lifts City into ninth in the standings and still well in the running for a place in the finals series, while Thunder remain without a competition point this season.

Brisbane City 5 (Alistair PASE 61’, Ken DOUGALL 68’ 75’ 85’, Daniel SHAROV 89’)
SWQ Thunder 1 (Agoth TONG 9’)