Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Rob Morris
Images: Ken Coburn

A second half strike from off-season recruit Stephen Green has delivered Redlands United an opening day 2-1 win over Gold Coast City at Duncan McKenna Field

Played in hot and windy conditions, the Red Devils fell behind early via an own goal, however drew level before the half via defender Kai Halliday.

Green missed a penalty for the Red Devils midway through the second stanza but soon made amends as he struck his first ever PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal for his new club.

Local hopes of a Gold Coast fightback faded in the final ten minutes when defender Drew Jeskey was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

KEY MOMENTS

15’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Redlands corner found Kai Halliday unmarked at the back post but couldn’t direct his header on target.

16’ – GOAL FOR GOLD COAST – Heavy contest for a header between Lyndon Dykes and Redlands defender sees ball loop into the top corner, the referees crediting as an own goal.

26’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Kai Halliday this time makes good with a header from another Redlands corner past Gold Coast defender Riley Dillon on the goal line.

33’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Poor first touch from goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas almost allows Redlands’s veteran Russell Woodruffe to pounce but the ball is ultimately cleared.

45’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Graham Fyfe gets through one-on-one with Shane Viitakangas but the Gold Coast keeper keeps his nerve to snuff out the opportunity.

59’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – A collision between Shane Viitakangas and Matthew Jones puts the goal at the mercy of Igor Sao Jose but he blasts it wide.

69’ – PENALTY SAVED BY GOLD COAST – Stephen Green wins a penalty after forcing Drew Jeskey into a challenge, Graham Fyfe hits the spot kick but it’s saved bottom left by Shane Viitakangas.

70’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Stephen Green and Shane Viitakangas both challenge for the ball without reward, Green then pounces on the rebound to scoop home a finish on the turn

82’ – RED CARD FOR GOLD COAST – Drew Jeskey receives his second booking of the match and is sent for an early shower.

WHAT THEY SAID

“I think in the first half we took the game to them but unfortunately we didn’t create enough clear cut chances and only scored one goal. In the second half they came out pretty strong and physically came over the top of us, which is disappointing. It’s something we have to learn from if we are to get the three points next week.” – Justyn McKay, Gold Coast City captain

“Our pre-season was indifferent if you look at results but some of the defeats we had in pre-season probably primed us for this game.” – Matt Chandler, Redlands United coach

MATCH DETAILS

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 1
Saturday, February 27
Duncan McKenna Field, Gold Coast

Gold Coast City - 1
Redlands United FC -  2

GOLD COAST CITY FC
Goals - own goal 16'
Yellow Cards - Riley DILLON 54’, Drew JESKEY 66’, Jarrod KYLE 87’
Red Cards - Drew JESKEY 82’

Squad - 1. Shane VIITAKANGAS, 2. Matthew JONES (19. Morgan SAUNDERS 70’), 3. Tim JACKSON, 4. Drew JESKEY, 5. Riley DILLON, 6. Roman HOFMANN, 7. Justyn MCKAY, 10. Ben LITFIN (15. Eoghan MURPHY 75’), 11. Nikola MIRKOVIC (9. Jarrod KYLE 70’), 14. Lyndon DYKES, 18. Daniel DRAGICEVIC

Unused - 8. Jason CAMPBELL,  20. Joshua LANGDON

REDLANDS UNITED FC

Goals - Kai HALLIDAY 26’, Stephen GREEN 70’
Yellow Cards - none
Red Cards - none

Squad - 1. Brendan WHITE, 3. Grant BRIX, 4. Kai HALLIDAY, 5. Paul O’BRIEN, 7. Michael LEE, 8. Russell WOODRUFFE, 9. Stephen GREEN, 11. Graham FYFE, 14. Nicholas DANICIC, 16. Igor SAO JOSE, 18. Michael MCGOWAN

Unused - 12. Travis BISSETT, 13. Scott DYKMAN 15. Doyle BISSETT, 17. Matt LEONARD, 20. Matthew LUGO