Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Steven Gibson Photography/Brisbane Roar FC

Brisbane Roar Youth were pushed all the way before edging out Northern Fury 2-0 at Perry Park on Saturday night.

Shelford Dais and Samuel Sibatuara struck a goal in each half to help Young Roar nudge Fury out of the top half of the table.

The result leaves Fury’s PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series hopes hanging by a thread, with the Townsville club needing maximum points from their final three games and reliant on other results to finish in the top four.

Young Roar opened accounts only ten minutes into the contest after Fury goalkeeper Daniel Wilesmith parried a 25 yard pile-driver from Jordan Lampard

Dais pounced to turn the rebound into the back of the net to notch his second goal of the 2015 campaign.

Fury battled hard to level terms and saw their best chance just prior to the half hour as Jake Perry snuck a shot past Young Roar goalkeeper Tomislav Bilic only for the ball to trickle wide of the post.

Dais came close to doubling Young Roar’s advantage soon after, but saw the ball plucked from his feet by the onrushing Wilesmith

Perry again threatened to level terms before half-time as his close-range shot was blocked following a Fury free-kick, while Wilesmith delivered a sharp save to deny Young Roar’s Thomas Miller in the final minute of the half.

Fury dominated possession after the restart but clear-cut scoring opportunities proved elusive as Young Roar effectively absorbed the building pressure.

The visitors came closest just before the hour when debutant Stephen Blackburn looping effort skimmed the crossbar to land on the roof of the net.

Young Roar’s defence continued to frustrate Fury for the remainder of the half until Sibatura doubled the host’s advantage in the final minutes.

The attacker controlled Lampard’s cross before shaking a defender and slotting the finish for his fifth goal of the season.

Young Roar left fullback Lampard played a key role in both goals and explained post-match that he thought his early strike was goal-bound.

“I was on my toes and I thought I was about to celebrate, but luckily Shelford was on the follow-up,” Lampard said.

Fury coach Ian Ferguson said his players lacked the cutting edge and conceded a maiden PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series appearance for his side will likely have to wait for another year.

“This was a great opportunity to keep ourselves in the hunt to try and get into the finals. To me this was the kick-off to the finals and sadly our players didn’t show that tonight,” Ferguson said.

Brisbane Roar FC Youth  2 (Shelford DAIS 10’, Samuel SIBATUARA 86’)
Northern Fury FC  0