Words: Carina Druce, Western Pride
Image: Keith Eigeland, Football Queensland

Northern Fury have secured their first points in the south-east corner this season with a 2-1 win over Western Pride at Briggs Road Complex in Ipswich.

Braedyn Crowley scored the match winner for Fury in the second half, adding to his first half strike and continuing his recent goal scoring form.

Peter Drager levelled terms for Pride in the first half, but couldn’t repeat his heroics in the second when he struck a penalty against the crossbar.

Both teams fought for the win with pressure on both keepers during the first half with Pride’s Chris Scott forcing Fury keeper Dylan Hudson into a save early on.

Jack Gusmeroli retaliated on the other end of the pitch with the Pride keeper Andres Pascoe fumbling the long range effort leading to a scrambled clearance.

Fury saw their perseverance pay off when Crowley netted the first goal of the game before Drager equalized shortly after with a powerful shot from inside the box.

Crowley tried for a first half brace but again was denied twice by Pascoe before the end of the half, while Kevin Fraser also saw a good chance fly over the bar.

The second half than began as it ended with Corey Waples just dragging a shot wide for Fury before Crowley scored the match winner for Fury with a well-executed finish just after the hour.

Minutes later, Drager missed the chance to once again level terms from the penalty spot when his shot ricocheted off the crossbar.

Will Jordan almost made amends when his shot beat the keeper, but was just wide of the far post.

Subsititute Aaron Christensen made an immediate impact with an attempt on goal that went wide of the post.

Pride’s Lincoln Rule saw his late shot saved by Hudson to secure Fury the points.

The result lifts Fury into third on the NPL Queensland table, while Pride remain without a competition point and in second last place on the table.

Western Pride 1 (Peter DRAGER 28’)
Northern Fury 2 (Braedyn CROWLEY 24’ 63’)