Words: Nick Crockford, Moretno Bay United
Image: JG Fitzpatrick

Four goals from NPL Queensland golden boot leader Royce Brownlie has lifted Moreton Bay United to a rampaging 9-0 win over South West Queensland Thunder at Wolter Park on Saturday night.

Brownlie, now with 18 goals from ten games, was supported by braces from Charles Mendy and Jared Austin, before Jordan Farina scored his first goal for the Jets to complete the goal rush.

Jets took just three minutes to open the scoring when Thunder keeper Stuart Campbell spilled a cross from Mendy allowing Brownlie to stab the ball home from close range.

Within seconds of the restart Ben Watt cleared off the Thunder line before Mendy forced a save from Campbell and Brownlie struck the post with a shot from 12 metres.

Five minutes later, Austin found Brownlie on the edge of the area and the Jets captain muscled past two challenges before scoring with a rising shot off the inside of the right-hand post.

Jets sealed the points prior to the half hour when Brownlie chested Ryota Nakaooka’s pass in to the path of Mendy, allowing the Frenchman to power through and convert from close range.

Thunder responded when Coen Oates was played through on goal but his first shot was blocked by Bradley with Oates then unable to convert the rebound.

The influential Austin set-up Brownlie for his hat-trick on 34 minutes, the experienced marksman again taking on two defender before striking in from close range.

Four became five in the 38^th minute when Mendy fired home from 12 metres after Thunder failed to clear Austin’s cross.

On the stroke of half-time Matt Capelo’s ball in was flicked on by Brownlie, allowing Austin to curl a right-foot shot in to the top corner to end a calamitous opening 45 minutes for the visitors.

Soon after the restart Tom Fanning had a chance to pull one back for Thunder when put through by Rehoboam Ayii but Bradley proved up to task.

Jets made it seven prior to the hour when Farina’s quick ball to Mendy on the edge of the area was teed-up for Austin to curl his second of the night past an unsighted Campbell.

The buffer allowed Terry Kirkham to ring the changes and Brownlie was back on the scoresheet on the hour – collecting Nakaooka’s pass with his back to goal and he turning to find the bottom corner with a right-footed shot.

Jets’ scoring was finished by Jordan Farina, who headed in Austin’s floated corner from close range on 69 minutes.

There was, however, still time for Thunder’s tireless Fanning to fashion three further chances but each failed to find the target.

The result keeps Jets just one point behind leaders Palm Beach Sharks who travel to Wolter Park on Saturday for a top-of-the-table blockbuster.

Moreton Bay United 9 (Royce BROWNLIE 4’ 18’ 34’ 60’, Charles MENDY 26’ 38’, Jared AUSTIN 46’ 67’, Jordan FARINA 69’)
South West Queensland Thunder 0