Five-Star Strikers Outshine Roar
Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Brisbane Strikers
Brisbane Strikers stormed into top spot on the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland table after overpowering Brisbane Roar Youth 5-1 at Perry Park on Saturday night.
Patrick Theodore cancelled out Michael Angus’ opener but it was all Strikers from there as Kevin A’Herne-Evans’ side proved their title credentials.
Young Roar were stunning 12-0 winners over Western Pride last time out but found it tougher against the unbeaten Strikers early, needing Tomislav Bilic to save from Angus in the 13th minute.
Midfielder Angus wouldn’t be denied as second time though as he made it 1-0 in the 23rd minute, picking out the top corner with a first-time effort from Trent Clulow’s deflected cross.
After keeping his first clean sheet of the season last week, Strikers ‘keeper Michael Turnbull was caught out on the half hour mark as a Patrick Theodore cross floated over the experienced gloveman and inside the far post to make it 1-1.
Scot Coulson sent a free-kick across the face soon after as Strikers threatened an immediate response and in the 39th minute Greig Henslee delivered, heading home his third of the season from Keenan Duimpies’ corner.
The hosts extended their lead before the break as Jheison Macuace capitalised on Austin Ludwik’s underhit backpass to round Bilic and make it 3-1.
Macuace might have had a second shortly after the restart but his miss mattered little with Joshua Ahern putting Strikers 4-1 ahead from close range in the 66th minute.
An already impressive victory became highly emphatic just eight minutes later as Trent Clulow completed the 5-1 rout by intercepting a square pass, dribbling into the area and burying a left-footed finish.
Speaking after the match, Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’Herne-Evans was especially proud of his team’s pro-active attitude.
“I was really pleased tonight with our ability and desire to get on the ball and to try not to just be a team that sat deep and hit them on the counter,” A’Herne-Evans said.
Young Roar coach John Sime was disappointed with his team’s sloppiness in defence.
“We came up against a team that pressed us very high up the park … and we struggled to handle that,” Sime said.
Listen to the full post-match interviews below.
Brisbane Strikers FC 5 (Michael ANGUS 23’ Greig HENSLEE 39’ Jheison MACUACE 43’ Joshua AHERN 66’ Trent CLULOW 74’)
Brisbane Roar FC Youth 1 (Patrick THEODORE 30’)
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