Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Paul Smith
Images: Paul Smith

SWQ Thunder have claimed their biggest scalp of the season so far after seeing off defending Champions Moreton Bay United 2-0 at Clive Berghofer Stadium

Recently announced Botafogo FC recruit Nykodah Smith struck twice in the first half for his first goals of the campaign, while goalkeeper Luke Borean made several telling saves to keep the visitors at bay.

However, the match wasn’t without controversy as both sides finished the contest with ten players as Jets midfielder Alex Janovsky and Thunder defender Rowan Salomon were both dismissed in the second half.

The result marks Thunder’s first clean sheet of the campaign while also consigning Jets to a third straight match without a win.

However, Jets still remain ahead of Thunder on goal difference in the league standings, with the teams now equal on ten points apiece.

Key Moments

3’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER - Ben Barrowclift powers a shot towards goal on the turn but it ricochets off the crossbar

10’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Jordan Farina pulls the trigger but Thunder goalkeeper Luke Borean is up to task

17’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER - Ben Barrowclift puts a ball through the middle of the park for Nykodah Smith to advance into the area before beating Jets goalkeeper Matthew Stein on his near post

24’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Royce Brownlie shoots at close range on the angle but the shot fizzes across the face of goal

29’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Alex Janovsky finds the target from the edge of the box but is denied by a low diving save from Luke Borean

32’ – GOAL FOR THUNDER – Kevin Doyle drives in to the penalty area before his pass allows a full-stretched Nykodah Smith to convert on the slide from close range

33’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Set-piece specialist Alex Janovsky finesses a 25 yard free-kick up and over the wall to force a diving save from Luke Borean down low

48’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Joey Masuda gets a sight on goal but can’t get the better of Luke Borean

71’ – RED CARD FOR JETS – Alex Janovsky is dismissed for a second bookable offence for a push on Nykodah Smith after play was halted for an infringement by Thunder

75’ – CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Lachlan Atkinson shakes several defenders and shoots from outside the penalty area but sees his shot deflect wide

90+3’ – RED CARD FOR THUNDER – Rowan Salomon’s foul halts a Jets attack and is shown a straight red card as last defender

What They Said

“It’s a great result for the club. It just shows that when we rock up to play and in the right head space then the results come. It’s always good to get a clean sheet and hopefully there’s a few more this season. But it goes to all the boys and not just me – it’s from the front all the way to the back and everyone was brilliant tonight.“ – Luke Borean, SWQ Thunder FC captain

“It wasn’t the best performance by us. A bit under par from what we expect and our standards but all credit to Thunder, who had a game plan and executed it well. It’s good to see them winning in the league but unfortunately it came at the cost of us.“ – Alex Janovsky, Moreton Bay United FC

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 6
Saturday, April 9
Cliver Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

SWQ Thunder FC 2 defeat Moreton Bay United FC 0

Thunder Goals – Nykodah SMITH 17’ 32’
Thunder Yellow Cards – Luke BOREAN 33’, Benjamin BARROWCLIFT 41’, Rowan SALOMON 43’, Majok PIOK 63’, Kimba KIBOMBO 65’, Thomas FANNING 90+1
Thunder Red Cards – Rowan SALOMON 90+3’

Thunder Squad – 1. Luke BOREAN, 2. Rowan SALOMON, 3. Keagan SHERIDAN, 4. Benjamin BARROWCLIFT, 7. Thomas FANNING, 8. Lachlan ATKINSON, 10. Mustafa JAFARI (5. Courtney JACKSON 68’), 11. Majok PIOK (9. Wade HALL 79’), 13. Silde CANDA, 15. Kevin DOYLE (12. Kimba KIBOMBO 61’), 16. Nykodah SMITH
Thunder Unused – 14. Reec ACHIEK, 20. Jace HUDSON

Jets Goals - none
Jets Yellow Cards – Alex JANOVSKY 26’, Matthew BYRNE 72’, Scott STEWART 74’
Jets Red Cards – Alex JANOVSKY 71’

Jets Squad – 1. Matthew STEIN, 2. Reyze KELLY, 3. Scott STEWART, 4. Matthew BYRNE, 6. Liam PREVITERA, 7. Jordan FARINA, 8. Matthew CAPELO (15. Taiga ISHIKURA 61’), 9. Royce BROWNLIE, 11. Jackson HALL (13. Finn BEAKHURST 36’), 12. Sebastian KALOS (10. Joey MASUDA 46’), 14. Alex JANOVSKY
Jets Unused – 19. Jacob MITCHELL, 20. Xander GWYNN-JONES

Match Officials – Matt GILLET (referee), Daniel OLSON (assistant), Alex HOHN (assistant), Ethan QUINLAN (fourth)