Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Anthony Napoli/Brisbane City

A ten man Moreton Bay United bolstered their NPL Queensland Finals Series claims with a solid 2-0 win over Brisbane City at Spencer Park on Friday night.

Royce Brownlie netted a spectacular opener strike prior to Alex Henderson’s 27^th minute sending off, before Charles Mendy rounded out the result with fifteen minutes remaining in the contest.

With both clubs needing a win to strengthen their hopes of finals football, the sides produced an energetic opening ten minutes.

City delivered the first attempts on goal from set-pieces as Cameron Tew and Luca Perico both shot wide from direct free-kicks.

Jets captain Brownlie struck the opener from the edge of the box on 16 minutes, curling a snap shot in the near top corner that caught City goalkeeper Matt Stein flat-footed.

Only minutes later, the visitors saw a second goal disallowed following an infringement on Stein after Ryota Nakaooka’s well-placed corner was nodded on to Mendy at the back post.

The contest took a dramatic turn shortly after as Alex Henderson was shown a straight red card for a wild challenge on Perico in the Jets half, however City struggled to make their extra man advantage tell.

As the half drew to a close striker Antonio Murray, starting his first game this season, slipped through Perico on his right, however the Italian’s shot lacked venom on the angle.

A final long range attempt from Tew failed to find the target as Jets held their advantage into the break.

The hosts returned with greater impetus in the second stanza, however poor delivery in the attacking third saw several half chances go begging.

On 52 minutes, a Jets counter attack saw Mendy tee-up Nakaooka on 15 yards, however the midfielder’s firmly struck shot was well-held by Stein.

Nathan Bird fired well over the bar from the top of the box for City, while Murray threatened in and around the box but was repeatedly denied the space to shoot by the Jets defence.

Jets continued to prove dangerous on the counter attack as Mendy dispossessed Kyle Blackadder on half way just after the hour only to see his shot saved by the onrushing Stein.

City looked increasingly likely to level terms as Jae Joo Young’s cross just evaded a host of onrushing attackers at the back post and substitute Alisatair Pase began to provide a host of crosses from the right.

However, on 75 minutes Mendy earned his reward for a busy performance after being slipped in behind the line by Brownlie – the French attacker rounding Stein before finishing into the empty net to double the advantage.

A series of late changes offered City a sniff of a comeback starting with Pase heading wide from Murray’s byline cross.

With ten minutes remaining Koh Satake saw his strong header from a corner saved by a full-stretched save by Jets goalkeeper Luke Borean, before only seconds later Kai Smith’s header clatter back off the crossbar.

Chris Toovey and Nick Buckley also spurned late chances as Moreton Bay shut-out their hosts to claim the three points.

The result lifts Jets back into the top four, but they could drop back out depending on results later in the round.

City remain four points outside the finals places ahead of Tuesday’s important home clash with Harimau Muda ‘A’.

Brisbane City 0
Moreton Bay United 2 (Royce BROWNLIE 16’, Charles MENDY 75’)