Red Devils Nearly Thunderstruck
Words: Terry Parle
Image: Ray Gardner/Redlands United
Redlands United held off a resolute South West Queensland Thunder 4-3 on Tuesday night at Cleveland Showgrounds.
Seven players got on the score sheet with Graham Fyfe, Michael Lee, Greg Warden and Russell Woodruffe for Redlands, and Tom Fanning, Agoth Tong and Rehoboam Ayii replying for Thunder.
Redlands dominated possession early and took the lead on 9 minutes when Lee found space at the top of the box to supply Graham Fyfe for a tap-in.
The visitors sought to get players behind the ball and strike on the counter attack, however the final pass let them down early on.
Redlands doubled their advantage on 23 minutes after Fyfe returned the favour for Lee, drawing the attentions of the defence before laying off for his teammate to deliver a firmly struck finish.
Thunder battled hard to get back into the contest and Fanning made the breakthrough for the visitors just prior to the half hour, delivering a lifted finish over Redlands goalkeeper Brad Stout.
The counter attack saw Thunder draw level just prior to the break when some sharp combination play opened up the Redlands defence and allowed Tong to deliver a composed finish.
Redlands came out more determined for the second stanza with attacking talisman Nico Bechar featuring more after a lacklustre first half.
The hosts returned to the lead just after the hour when Thunder failed to dispel the danger from a corner, allowing Warden to turn the ball home from six yards.
Buoyed, Redlands stifled Thunder in attack and the pressure took its toll with ten minutes remaining as Woodruffe did just enough to turn in Fyfe’s inswinging corner at the near post.
A late rally saw Thunder get a sniff of another comeback after Ayii converted from the penalty spot following a handball from Redlands defender James Donnelly.
It proved a nervy final five minutes as the hosts held on to deny Thunder their first competition point of the season.
The result leaves Redlands in sixth place and still in the finals hunt ahead of a rematch in Gatton against Thunder this Saturday.
Redlands United 4(Graham FYFE 9’, Michael LEE 23’, Greg WARDEN 61’, Russell WOODRUFFE 80’)\
SWQ Thunder 3(Tom FANNING 29’, Agoth TONG 43’, Rehoboam AYII 85’)
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