Red Devils Still In Finals Hunt
Words: Christie Green
Image: Ray Gardner/Redlands United
Redlands United boosted their NPL Queensland Finals Series hopes on Sunday with a 4-2 win over Northern Fury at Townsville Sports Reserve.
Elliott Ronto’s brace added to further goals to Graham Fyfe and Nico Bechar for the visitors, while Jake Perry and Danny Pledge chimed in for the hosts.
Fury were left to rue miss chances throughout the contest after starting the brighter of the two sides.
A pinpoint ball from Jacob Crowley set up the opening goal for Fury only five minutes into the match as Perry lured Redlands United ‘keeper Andrew Ralph off his line before slotting home the finish.
Fury continued to threaten as Perry forced a save from Ralph only three minutes later.
Redlands steadied soon after and started to apply pressure to Fury’s defence – clearing a corner off the line before goalkeeper Matthew Symes was called up to save.
Ronto opened his account to deliver the equaliser on 21 minutes with a comfortable strike before two goals in quick time prior to half-time surged Redlands into the lead.
Bechar edged the visitors ahead in the 42nd minute before Graham Fyfe’s quickly taken free-kick caught Fury’s defence off guard three minutes later.
A revving from coach Ian Ferguson saw a much-energised Fury in the second half, however Redlands effectively sealed the points shortly after the restart when Ronto pounced on a defensive error to secure his second and lift his tally to seven for the season.
Four minutes later Pledge was on hand to head home a rebound off the left upright to give the Townsville crowd hope however the margin proved too much for the hosts.
In the final stages, Jacob Crowley and Kevin Fraser both skimmed the crossbar with headed attempts, however Redlands held firm to secure the three points.
The result lifts the Red Devils to sixth in the NPL Queensland standings and five points outside the top four finals places.
Fury’s last home match of the season sees them remaining in eleventh ahead of next weekend’s trip to Sunshine Coast Stadium to face Sunshine Coast Fire.
Northern Fury 2 (Jake PERRY 5’, Danny PLEDGE 56’)
Redlands United 4 (Elliott RONTO 21’ 52’, Nico BECHAR 42’, Graham FYFE 45’)
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