Words: Garry McKenzie & Michael Flynn
Images: Chris Simpson

Two goals in the final five minutes has seen Northern Fury snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw with Western Pride at Briggs Road Sporting Complex.

Pride established a two goal advantage prior to the hour, however were reeled in by a stunning comeback as Jae Eurell and Jonathan Bagley struck twice at the death to seal Fury’s second draw in as many weeks.

Earlier, Bagley drew Fury level in the first-half by cancelling out Mitchell Bird’s opener before Pride stormed ahead early in the second stanza via goals to Maxime Hoppenot and Joseph Duckworth.

The results secures the bottom-of-the-table Fury their first away point of the campaign and sees them now unbeaten in their past two matches.

Pride remain 12 points ahead of Fury in the battle for the wooden spoon but are now without a win in their past five matches – conceding three goals in each of their past four outings.

Key Moments

9’ - CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Bonventure Thomas-Remijo races into the area from the left touchline but his acutely angled shot is turned wide by Fury goalkeeper Luke MacDonald

25’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Thomas-Remijo carries the ball down the left touchline before cutting in towards goal and shoots only for MacDonald to this time touch the ball onto the post and behind

26’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Fury failed to clear a corner and the ball finds Hoppenot near the far post but his shot hits MacDonald and ricochets wide

31’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Mitchell Bird latches onto a through ball to breach Fury’s defences and converts with a rising shot to the left of MacDonald

38’ – GOAL FOR FURY – Hamish Cassady flicks a clever ball over his marker to create space before delivering an inch perfect pass to Jonathon Bagley to head home inside the far post

50’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE - Hoppenot loses possession and his balance deep inside the Fury area but reacts quicker than the defenders to rise up and loop his foot around the ball and squeeze it across MacDonald to restore his side’s lead

54’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – Corey Waples delivers a shot from the edge of the penalty area but it is collected down low by the diving Short

57’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Bird charges down the right touchline before crossing to Duckworth, who runs onto the ball and smashes it past MacDonald

77’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Corey Lucas forces a parried save from MacDonald from a free-kick but Jesse Rigby’s follow-up flashes just over the crossbar

85’ – GOAL FOR FURY - A cross by Waples creates confusion between Short and his defender allowing substitute Jae Eurell to squeeze the ball home

89’ - GOAL FOR FURY - Free-kick from near the half-way line is bombed into the area where Bagley pulls down the ball, turns and volleys it past Short

What They Said

“We didn’t see the game out properly. I asked the boys before kick-off to be ruthless at both ends of the field, and I don’t think we achieved that. I wasn’t content (with the performance). We still missed too many clear chances. There were too many 1 v 1s we missed and a lot of chances within the penalty area we don’t take.” - Graham Harvey, Western Pride FC coach

“We went 3-1 down and showed great character coming back. We changed the shape as we went to two strikers up front and it created more space for us. We moved Michael Eisenhut out to the right and felt he gave their left fullback a torrid time. For me he started us to claw our way back into the game. I think there is a bit of belief behind the boys now.” – Ian Ferguson, Northern Fury FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 15

Saturday, June 25
Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich

Western Pride FC – 3 (Mitchell BIRD 31', Maxime HOPPENOT 50', Joseph DUCKWORTH 57’)
Northern Fury FC – 3 (Jonathon BAGLEY 38' 89', Jae EURELL 85')

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/28Rs9CQ

Match Officials - Matt SKINNER (referee), Kehan RYLEY (assistant), Alex HOHN (assistant), James MAINEY (fourth)