City Make It Two On The Trot
Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Paul Smith / SWQ Thunder FC
A brace from Antonio Murray has guided City to a 3-1 win over SWQ Thunder at Commonwealth Oval on Saturday.
All the goals came in the final quarter hour as City surged home to record their second straight PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland win against the understrength Thunder.
Murray’s double marks the fifth straight match the league’s 2013 Golden Boot winner has been on the scoresheet and lifts his current season’s tally to six.
The two sides were evenly matched through the opening exchanges before City increasingly took control of the contest.
However, clear cut chances proved elusive for the visitors with Anthony Poljak spurning a pair of opportunities as he twice failed to find the target from crosses from Murray.
The hosts came out stronger in the second stanza and a battle ensued between the competition’s bottom two sides before the floodgates finally opened late in the piece.
Murray delivered the opener on 77 minutes with a clinical strike that offered returned Thunder goalkeeper Michael Pike little chance of a save.
Young then doubled City’s advantage four minutes later by turning home a cross for his second goal of the season.
Franke offered the hosts fleeting hope when he delivered a left-footed finish four minutes from full-time for his first goal of 2015.
However, an error from Pike in the final minute allowed Murray to seal the win as the ball fell at his feet and City’s top goalscorer tucked home the finish
The result extends Thunder’s winless start to the campaign to nine matches.
Speaking post-match, City coach Darron Heseldon said his team were now on a roll following a slow start to the season.
“Our fitness has been one of the key points I think since I’ve gotten hold of the boys and we’ve run over the top of most teams since we got their fitness levels up,” he said.
Thunder Technical Director Joe Fenech, who served as stand-in for regular coach Chris Wilkes, said his side were edging ever closer to a breakthrough win.
“(A win is) just around the corner. The performance of the players - you can’t fault it,” he said.
SWQ Thunder FC 1 (Jackson FRANKE 86’
Brisbane City FC 3 (Antonio Murray 77’ 88’, YOUNG Jae Joo 81’)
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