Words: Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers FC
Image: Brisbane Strikers FC

Brisbane Strikers bounced back to form with a vengeance on Sunday, leaving neighbours Brisbane City destroyed and deflated with a 3-0 win in their derby clash at Perry Park.

A strong first half showing from Strikers saw Scot Coulson, Matt Thurtell and Dan Partridge give the hosts a 3-0 half-time lead before controlling the second half to emerge comfortable winners.

With City equal top on the league table before the weekend’s fixtures began and the Strikers coming off a four goal loss to Northern Fury the week before, City went into the game as favourites. 

However, Strikers quickly gained the ascendancy in general play and went ahead in the fifteenth minute when winger Coulson raced on to a pass from centre half Jason Shade to slip a left-footed shot past City goalkeeper Luke Borean from fifteen yards.

As City failed to respond, the Strikers went further ahead in the twenty-seventh minute when Thurtell pounced on a lay-off from midfield team mate Chris Burley to smash the ball home from twenty yards.

The result was completed in the forty-first minute when defender Partridge scored his first goal for Strikers, tucking home a shot from eight yards following a goalmouth scramble after Borean had dropped a corner kick from Coulson.

The visitors improved in the second half, forcing a fine reflex save from Strikers goalkeeper David Chambers at his near post as City forward Jarrod Kyle broke free of the defence to blaze a shot at goal from a tight angle.

City also hit the Strikers’ crossbar with a header from substitute Daniel Sharov before Strikers responded with a shot from Thurtell that struck the inside of Borean’s far post but stayed in the field of play.

In his post-game wrap, Strikers coach Chay Hews put his team’s improved performance partly down to wounded pride.

“I think that as a team and a squad, everybody lifted today”, Hews said.

“I think they had a point to prove that last week wasn’t good enough and we set standards way higher than that.”

“Today was a chance to go out and try to prove to everybody that they are a good football squad.”

The Strikers are next in action in Toowoomba on Sunday, where they will play the struggling SWQ Thunder in their last game before the Easter break.

Brisbane Strikers 3 (Scot COULSON 15’, Matt THURTELL 27’, Dan PARTRIDGE 41’)
Brisbane City 0