Words; Michael Flynn
Image: Sam Attwood/Sunshine Coast FC

Northern Fury extended Sunshine Coast FC’s winless run to six matches following a 3-1 result at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday.

Fire's Jacob Fulluck cancelled out Joe Thornton's second-half opener before the visitors finished strongly to claim the points on the back of goals to Jake Perry and Tristan Russell.

The result overturns a two match losing streak for Fury and returns them to the top half of the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland ladder.

Both teams started the match with gusto, however Fire suffered an early blow when Tim Hollingworth was forced from the pitch with injury inside the opening ten minutes.

Both sides displayed attacking intent but cancelled each other out until midway through the half when Fulluck’s first clear cut chance of the match was saved by Daniel Wilesmith.

Fury saw the better of the closing stages of the opening stanza but couldn’t find the breakthrough as the sides remained deadlocked at the half.

The second half proved more lively as Fire threatened from a series of early set-pieces without reward.

However, Fury delivered the opening goal ten minutes after the restart when Thornton won possession and won out in the ensuing one-on-one with Fire goalkeeper Dale Hill.

Fire pushed strongly for an equaliser as Fulluck saw his shot crash off the crossbar before Brady Cronk’s follow-up was saved by Wilesmith.

Kenya Takahashi also struck the post midway through the half before Fulluck levelled terms from the penalty spot - converting assuredly after Grant de Chastel was brought down in the box.

The hosts then spurned a series of chances to take the lead as Kelly, Fulluck, Frew and Rhys Roberts all missed the target.

They would ultimately rue their misses as Fury restored their advantage with ten minutes remaining - Perry slotting his third goal of the campaign after catching Hill out of position on the counter attack.

Fire pushed forward in search of the equaliser but were caught out in the final minutes as substitute Russell sealed the win on the counter with his first ever PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland goal.

Speaking post-match, Fury coach Ian Ferguson said his side had identified ways to turn around Fire’s 5-1 win in the fixture between the teams earlier this season.

“I was really pleased with the movement I got from the wider players and through the middle and I think that caused them a few problems today,” he said.

Fire coach Paul Arnison lamented his team’s continued run of poor results despite controlling possession for extended periods.

“We know that we can create chances but we just got to take our chances at one end and stop them going in at the other end but it’s easier said than done,” he said.

Sunshine Coast FC  1 (Jacob FULLUCK 70’p)
Northern Fury FC  3 (Joe THORNTON 55’, Jake PERRY 80’, Tristan RUSSELL 90’)