Finally! Thunder Get First Win
Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Paul Smith
Images: Paul Smith
SWQ Thunder have the monkey off their back – recording their first league win after out-classing Northern Fury 2-1 at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Off-season recruits Mustafa Jafari and Majok Piok struck a goal apiece in quick time midway through the first half to set-up the historic moment – the win coming in the club’s 47th league match.
Fury found late consolation as substitute Charles Slaney delivered his first PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal with five minutes remaining.
However, despite some late nervous moments for Thunder, the Toowoomba-based club held firm to prevent the visitors from tarnishing the occasion for their home faithful.
Key Moments
24’ – GOAL TO THUNDER – Benjamin Barrowclift releases Mustafa Jafari, who draws the goalkeeper before cutting back to Majok Piok at the far post for the finish
29’ – GOAL TO THUNDER – Majok Piok returns the favour with a lobbed pass, Mustafa Jafari making no mistake in the one-on-one with goalkeeper Matthew Bolton
82’ – GOAL TO FURY – Third times a charm as the visitors push on the counter-attack and eventually Charles Slaney gets the ball over the line after Luke Borean made two sharp saves
What They Said
“There was a good vibe in the change room before the game. We knew we could get the three points but it was just a matter of putting it on the park. Tonight we showed what we can do and hopefully we can get a winning momentum going.” – Keagan Sheridan, SWQ Thunder defender
“I thought tonight our ball speed was poor, our possession was poor and I just thought we were second best to a lot of things and it wasn’t until the last 15 minutes that we actually started playing some decent football.” – Ian Ferguson, Northern Fury FC coach
Match Details
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 1
Saturday, February 27
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
SWQ Thunder FC – 2
Northern Fury FC – 1
SWQ THUNDER FC
Goals – Majok PIOK 25’, Mustafa JAFARI 29’
Yellow cards – Majok PIOK 65’, Matthew HULL 90’
Red cards – none
Squad – 1. Luke BOREAN, 2. Rowan SALOMAN, 3. Keagan SHERIDAN, 4. Benjamin BARROWCLIFT, 5. Xavier PRATT 6. Jackson HAUSLER (9. Jack PERCY 55’),, 7. Thomas FANNING (Courtney JACKSON 82’), 8. Lachlan ATKINSON, 10. Mustafa JAFARI (12. Matthew HULL 75’), 11. Majok PIOK, 18. Jacob BIGBY
Unused – 13. Silde CANDA, 20. Jayden FORMOSA
NORTHERN FURY FC
Goals – Charles SLANEY 85’
Yellow cards – Joshua BOWMAN 91’
Red Cards – none
Squad – 1. Matthew BOLTON, 4. George DALTON, 5. Thomas PEARCE, 6. Kelvin MAPENDERE (16.Matthew GAUCI-MARTIN 80’), 8. Jae EURELL, 10. Michael EISENHUT, 12. Stephen BLACKBURN (13. Charles SLANEY 57’), 14. Samuel HERLIHY, 15. Corey WAPLES, 17. Hamish CASSADY, 19. Pandeli MAHALIS (7. Josh BOWMAN 41’)
Unused – 20. Ryan MURPHY
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