Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Stathi Mihalis
Images: Scott Radford-Chisholm

Gold Coast City have handed Northern Fury a club record sixth straight defeat following a 3-2 win at Townsville Sports Reserve.

City midfielder Benjamin Liftin delivered the decisive strike for the visitors approaching the final quarter hour after Fury fought back from two goals down to level terms before surviving a penalty scare.

Early strikes to Jarrod Kyle and Rhys Saunders saw city coasting after just quarter of an hour before Fury converted either side of half-time via a penalty to Joseph Thornton and a maiden PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal to Darren Walker.

The win extends City’s undefeated run to five games – which includes four crucial points in the tropical north after a previous draw against league leaders FNQ Heat.

They now move to fourth on the table on goal difference, while Fury remain at the bottom of the standings without a competition point in 2016.

Key Moments

3’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Fury fail to clear Nikola Mirkovic’s cross which drops kindly for Jarrod Kyle, who shakes a defender before drilling into the far corner of the net

10’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Justyn McKay lobs a pass over the Fury defences for Rhys Saunders, however his shot is saved down low by Fury goalkeeper Luke MacDonald

16’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Roman Hofmann releases Nikola Mirkovic one-on-one with Luke MacDonald, but he opts to square for the supporting Rhys Saunders who slots home the finish

20’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – Caleb Hobson surges down the left wing before cutting back inside but then sends his shot high

22’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – A City handball sets up Corey Waples for a free-kick just outside the area but the attempt goes just over the crossbar

43’ – GOAL FOR FURY – City are pinged for a penalty admidst a heavily contested corner kick, Joseph Thornton steps up and hammers it into the bottom corner of the goal

50’ – GOAL FOR FURY – The City defence attempt to clear a cross from Matthew Richards but get it all wrong as it falls to Darren Walker who tucks away the finish with the help of a deflection

52’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Corey Waples concedes a penalty almost immediately from the kick-off, Jarrod Kyle steps up but Luke MacDonald makes a low save before Rhys Saunders blazes a follow-up over the crossbar

75’ – GOAL FOR CITY – Daniel Dragicevic blitzes down the left and cuts back a cross for Benjamin Litfin to place an inch-perfect, first-time finish into the bottom corner to seal the points

What They Said

“I think it was an all-round team performance tonight. I think everyone put the effort in and battled for that late winner. That being said, we need to be a bit smarter when we go into the lead and keep the ball a bit more but if we clean up the mistakes we should be alright (in coming weeks). “ – Daniel Dragicevic, Gold Coast City FC

“It’s something we’ve been saying for a long time now, but we need to sustain for longer. The patches that we play well we have to do for longer. I don’t think we did too bad tonight, but it’s just the little areas that we have been talking about. We are still leaking (goals) and we need to improve on that.“ – Corey Waples, Northern Fury FC

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 6
Saturday, April 9
Townsville Sports Reserve, Townsville

Gold Coast City FC 3 defeat Northern Fury FC 2

Fury Goals – Joseph THORNTON 43’p, Darren WALKER 49’
Fury Yellow Cards – Thomas PEARCE 50’, Darren WALKER 63’, Jonathon BAGLEY 82’
Fury Red Cards – none

Fury Squad – 1. Luke MACDONALD, 2. Caleb HOBSON, 5. Thomas PEARCE, 9. Matthew RICHARDS, 10. Charles SLANEY (8. Jae EURELL 45’), 11. Jonathon BAGLEY, 12. Joseph THORNTON (17. Jake PERRY 62’), 13. Mitchell MAHER, 14. Samuel HERLIHY, 15. Corey WAPLES, 18. Darren WALKER
Fury Unused – 4. George DALTON, 19. Jordan ZABEL, 20. Ryan MURPHY

City Goals – Jarrod KYLE 3’, Rhys SAUNDERS 16’, Benjamin LITFIN 74’
City Yellow Cards – Roman HOFMANN 36’, Jarrod KYLE 42’
City Red Cards – none

City Squad – 1. Shane VIITAKANGAS, 3. Tim JACKSON, 4. Drew JESKEY, 5. Riley DILLON (2. Matthew JONES 87’), 7. Justyn MCKAY, 8. Roman HOFMANN, 9. Jarrod KYLE (16. Rees DUNCAN 61’), 10. Benjamin LITFIN, 11. Nikola MIRKOVIC, 13. Rhys SAUNDERS (12. Lochlan REUS 62’), 18. Daniel DRAGICEVIC
City Unused – 21. Jordon LAMPARD

Match Officials – Michael BOZHOFF (referee), Graham BUZZI (assistant), Jack NICOLOSI (assistant), Liam O’CONNOR (fourth)