Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Garry McKenzie
Images: Chris Simpson

Moreton Bay United’s Championship defence is officially over after going down 1-0 to Western Pride at Briggs Road Complex.

Mitchell Bird struck his fifth goal of the season midway through the second half for Pride after both sides failed to capitalise on earlier chances.

Jets hopes of a cut-back dissipated in the final minutes when Jordan Farina was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The result ends a frustrating nine match winless run for the second-from-bottom Pride and also marks their first clean sheet of the 2016 season.

Jets remain seventh on the ladder and even with two wins in the final two rounds will be unable to secure a top four finish.

Key Moments

29’ – CHANCE FOR JETS - Finn Beakhurst makes a flying run down the right to play in Alex Janovsky but the resultant shot curls wide from distance

45’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Nigel Dabinyaba evades several challenges on a run down the right before a bounce pass releases him through on goal only for Jets goalkeeper Matthew Stein to steal the ball from his feet

47’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Gabriel Hawash’s wayward backpass is pounced on by Royce Brownlie but Pride goalkeeper Bon Scott prevents the opener with a diving save

62’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Dabinyaba players into the corner before fashioning space for the shot but its directed straight at Stein

65’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Hawash thumps a header against the crossbar from a corner

70’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Geoffrey Macintyre’s well-weighted through-ball is met by a flying Mitchell Bird, who tucks the finish past Stein

72’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Brownlie gets to the byline before looping a cross over the head of Scott but Beakhurst’s header is wide of the target

83’ – RED CARD FOR JETS – Jordan Farina is shown a second yellow card after retaliating to a foul from Pride defender Corey Lucas

What They Said

“Nice to keep a clean sheet, first one of the year. I was happy with the whole team effort. We’ve got a young group so to go through a run we’ve had and get through the other side is nice to see. At half I told the boys to be a little bit more patient. We had a game plan (in the first half) but we rushed what we were trying to do, so we tried to address that at half time and the boys executed it at half time.” – Graham Harvey, Western Pride FC coach

“I think both teams were organised well. Just before they scored and after they scored – six yards out with no goal keeper and we miss. But at the end of the day the right team won tonight because they wanted it more. They looked like they had 11 players out there that wanted to play for the shirt and to give an honest assessment we didn’t. We haven’t had it for the last 10 weeks.” – Adam Piddick, Moreton Bay United FC technical director

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 20

Saturday, August 6
Briggs Road Complex, Ipswich

Western Pride FC – 1 (Mitchell BIRD 70’)
Moreton Bay United FC – 0

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2ay3wgj

Match Officials – Matt GILLETT (referee), Alex HOHN (assistant), Josh EISER (assistant), Justin TEMPLE (fourth)