Words: Michael Flynn

Redlands United are again amongst the Finals Series contenders after defeating Northern Fury 3-1 at Brolga Park on Saturday night.

Igor Sao Jose added to an own goal from Fury to give the Red Devils a two goal half-time advantage.

Fury defender Ari Isman pulled goal back for the hosts midway through the second stanza before Nico Bechar wrapped up the points for the visitors late in the piece.

The win sees the Red Devils leapfrog a host of clubs into fifth place in the standings behind Brisbane Roar Youth, who are ineligible for the Final Series in 2015 under competition rules.

A somewhat fiery start to the contest saw both sides create chances without reward throughout the opening half-hour - the visitors coming closest with a free-kick twenty minutes in.

The opening goal came as an attempted clearance by the Fury defence bounced back off the head of George Dalton - a desperate attempted save from goalkeeper Daniel Wilesmith unable to prevent the ricochet from nestling in the Fury goal.

Sao Jose soon doubled the advantage with a composed slotted finish after dribbling into the penalty area - his sixth goal of the 2015 campaign.

Fury suffered a further setback before half-time when the in-form Sean Karambasis was forced from the field with injury.

The hosts saw the better of the contest after the restart with a greater share of possession and the bulk of the scoring opportunities.

They halved the margin with twenty minutes remaining - Isman delivering an acrobatic finish as a free-kick was nodded back into the six-yard box from a free-kick.

However, the visitors responded only minutes later when Bechar delivered his tenth PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland goal in Redlands colours to secure the win.

Speaking post-match, Redlands Technical Director Matt Chandler said his side had shone early in the second half to deny Fury's fightback.

“We defended very well because I thought (Fury) were excellent and they worked the ball very well,” he said.

Northern Fury FC  1 (Ari ISMAN 70’)
Redlands United FC  3 (own goal 33’, Igor SAO JOSE 35’, Nico BECHAR 78’)