Words: Michael Flynn
Images: Paul Smith/Football Queensland

A stunning comeback that saw two goals in the final five minutes has delivered Redlands United their maiden PS4 NPL Queensland Champions title.

Redlands defeated FNQ Heat 3-2 in the decider at Perry Park - the same venue where the bayside club stunned the nation in the Westfield FFA Cup just a month earlier against Adelaide United.

Michael Lee again proved the hero for the Red Devils with a stunning curled strike in the final minute of regular time to stun the Heat who led the majority of the contest.

Heat took the lead in the early exchanges via Kieran Sanders before Redlands found a leveller midway through the opening stanza through Alistair Davis.

Heat reclaimed their advantage prior to the break when Sanders struck his second of the night five minutes before the half, however, the Cairns-based club were ultimately left to rue several missed chances in the second stanza.

It all fell apart in the final five minutes for Heat as an error from Heat goalkeeper KeIvin Ward gifted Jake Sherwood an unlikely equaliser before Lee’s last-minute strike on the counter attack sealed the title.

The win sees Redlands become the fourth Queensland Champion in four years in the national second tier competition and the first team to win the Grand Final without previously claiming the Premiers title.

The win is only the second trophy for Redlands in second-tier competition – following on from their 2012 Queensland State League Grand Final win.

Key Moments

4’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Keiran Sanders chests down a cross from Jamie Carroll and keeps his composure with a sharp shuffle and solid finish to open accounts

23’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Alistair Davis levels terms with a pin-point downward header from the edge of the six-yard box from a looping cross from Graham Fyfe

26’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Jamie Gosling receives a second phase ball 30 yards out and attempts a volley up-and-under but it’s easily held by Redlands goalkeeper Brendan White

36’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Cross in from Gosling picks out Christopher O’Hare but his header lacks sting and is scooped up on the bounce by White

37’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Fyfe plays a pass across the face of goal to the unmarked Paul O’Brien, but his first touch allows time for Ari Isman to recover and get a block on the ensuing shot

39’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – A preset corner routine sees a cross whipped in by Carroll and met strongly by the head of Sanders to restore Heat’s lead

44’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Sanders stands up his marker with a sharp turn of pace before crossing to Darcy McCormack at the far post, however, Jake Sherwood blocks the first-time strike on the slide

51’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – A cross in towards the back post is met by a loosely marked Sherwood but the headed attempt is high of the target

56’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – O’Hare cuts in from the left on a dangerous run to the top of the box before pulling the trigger but White makes the low diving save to keep him at bay

59’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – A free-kick for Heat results in a scramble in the box but the ball eventually bobbles to White to scoop up into his chest

67’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Joshua Pin’s ball into the box is allowed to run by Sanders for Carroll at the top of the penalty area but he blasts his strike high and wide

72’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – O’Brien floats a ball in towards Davis that catches the breeze but Heat goalkeeper Kevin Ward keeps his composure to take the catch high above his head on the line

81’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Surging forward on the counter-attack Jamie Carroll ends up one-on-one with White but opts for an early strike that is smothered by White

83’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Pin nutmegs Adam Chandler to create space for a cross into Mqondisi Nkiwane but his first-time attempt is miscued and trickles into the arms of White

85’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Michael McGowan runs on to a pass slipped into the box but Shimon Watanabe blocks the shot

85’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – The ensuing corner sees the ball pinball around the box before falling invitingly for Michael Lee but his shot from close range is pushed behind for another corner

86’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – A corner sits up in the wind but Heat goalkeeper fumbles his attempted catch allowing the ball to land at the feet of Sherwood, who ushers it over the line

90’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Redlands surge forward on the counter attack and Heat give Lee a sight at the top of the box and the midfielder curls a pin-point finish in off the post

90+3’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – With Heat sending numbers forward Redlands break again as Stephen Green slips the ball in for O’Brien’s run on goal but Bronson Koppen makes a lung-busting run to shutdown the finish

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland 2016 Grand Final

Saturday, September 3
Perry Park, Brisbane

FNQ FC Heat – 2 (Kieran SANDERS 4’ 39’)
Redlands United FC – 3 (Alistair DAVIS 23’, Jake SHERWOOD 86’, Michael LEE 90’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2chySI3

Match Officials –Adam Kersey (referee), Joey Lee (assistant), James Sherry (assistant), Alex King (fourth)