Words & Image: Nick Crockford, Moreton Bay United

A hat-trick from Charles Mendy lifted Moreton Bay United to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Brisbane City at Wolter Park on Saturday night.

Mendy, who now has nine goals in 10 games, grabbed the winner six minutes from time to send Jets to the top of the NPL Queensland ladder.

It completed a stirring fight-back by Jets, who were 1-0 down in two minutes and 3-1 down after19 minutes, but were still level before half-time.

In a dominating second-half, the Jets created the bulk of the chances, but shot wide or were denied by a combination of the post and City keeper Matthew Stein - until Mendy struck.

However, celebrations in the Jets’ camp, when the final whistle blew, were in complete contrast to the opening exchanges, when Luca Perico put City ahead inside two minutes from the game’s first corner.

Mendy equalised in the fifth minute calmly shooting low past Stein and within seconds Brownlie headed a good chance wide.

City were back in front on 15 minutes when Jarrod Kyle was put through and five minutes later it was 3-1 when a break down the City left set-up Matthew Biggins who took full advantage.

Yet Mendy pulled one back on 21 minutes, finding time and space to score and Matthew Capelo equalised six minutes before the break rifling home a low shot from 20 metres through a crowd of players.

The second half saw Capelo shoot just over the bar and put a diving header wide; Mendy hit the City post after being put through by Brownlie; Jared Austin’s shot almost squeeze under Stein who twice saved superbly from Brownlie and once from substitute Jake Harvey.

But, just as most in WolterPark were settling for a share of the spoils, Brownlie found Mendy unmarked in the penalty area, eight metres out and the French-born striker snatched all three points.

Moreton Bay United 4 (Charles MENDY 5’ 21’ 84’; Matthew CAPELO 39’)
Brisbane City 3 (Luca PERICO 2’, Jarrod KYLE 15’, Matthew BIGGINS 19’)