Words: Letticia Gooroovadoo
Additional Reporting and Images: Sam Attwood

Western Pride secured a comfortable 5-1 win over Sunshine Coast FC on Sunday afternoon at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Pride have now moved into the top four with their sixth consecutive win, giving them valuable momentum ahead of the upcoming Finals Series.

The score was 0-0 until midway through the first half, when Fire’s Shoichi Koshimizu converted a penalty.

With the pressure on, Pride kicked into high gear and Mitchell Bird scored two goals in as many minutes.

Bird continued to be a sharp shooter in the second half, scoring another two goals.

Dylan Wenzel-Halls wrapped up the game with a beautiful curled finish as Pride further cemented their victory and a move up the ladder.

Now on track for Finals, Pride will take on SWQ Thunder next week at Briggs Road Sporting Complex, while Fire will be away to Moreton Bay United.

Key Moments

29’ – GOAL FOR FIRE - Shoichi Koshimizu smashes a penalty into the right side of the goal.

30’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE - Mitchell Bird breaks down the right before shooting low into the net from 18 yards.

31’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE - Bird taps in after several blocked shots in the Fire area.

54’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE - Tom Land's back pass causes a mix-up and Bird passes home.
 
72’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Dylan Wenzel-Halls cuts back to Bird and the striker clips his fourth into the bottom right.

80’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE - Wenzel-Halls dispossesses Daniel Reynolds before curling home from the edge of the area.

Match Details

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2017 - Round 19
Sunday, 30 July
Sunshine Coast Stadium

Sunshine Coast FC 1 (Shoichi KOSHIMIZU 29')

Western Pride 5 (Mitchell BIRD 30' 31' 54' 72', Dylan WENZEL-HALLS 80')