Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Steve Pitman
Images: Ray Gardner

Redlands United continued their strong start to the 2016 campaign with a fighting 3-1 win over Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park.

The Red Devils held out Strikers for the final quarter hour of the contest with only ten men after Stephen Green was forced from the ground with injury.

Earlier, a stunning strike from Michael Lee broke the shackles on a somewhat cagey opening stanza only seconds before half-time.

The sides then went tit-for-tat shortly after the restart before 2015 Golden Boot Graham Fyfe delivered the decisive strike midway through the second half.

The win marks the first time Redlands have defeated Strikers at Perry Park in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

Redlands now stand third on the ladder on goal difference behind fellow undefeated teams Moreton Bay United and FNQ Heat.

Key Moments

34’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Alistair Davis rises to meet a cross from Sam Knight but it is held by Redlands goalkeeper Brendan White

40’ – CHANCE FOR REDLANDS – Michael Lee pulls the trigger on the turn but is denied by a smart, low save from Strikers goalkeeper Sebastian Usai at his near post

45+1’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Michael Lee delivers a howitzer of a strike from 35 yards out straight into the top left corner of the goal

46’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Alistair Davis looks to get on the end of an inside ball from Fraser Hills but is impeded by Michael McGowan with appeals for a penalty waved away

52’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Strikers defender Christopher Maher attempts to diffuse a cross but it deflects into his own goal

59’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Shelford Dais opens his account for 2016 with a smart headed finish at the back post to pull a goal back

73’ – GOAL FOR REDLANDS – Substitute Nicolas Bechar crosses for Graham Fyfe, who moves the ball onto his left foot for a curling finish into the top corner from 15 yards

85’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Jesse Wiemers stabs a free-kick just centimetres over the crossbar in what proves the hosts last chance to get back into the contest

What They Said

“I think Graham Fyfe’s the best player in the competition. Every time we play against him I always think he’s the best player on the park and he showed that again tonight. There’s no substitute for class and I think he oozes it.” – Kevin A’herne-Evans, Brisbane Strikers coach

“I think it was an eight-out-of-ten performance (from us). I said to the boys at the end of the game that you couldn’t tell for fifteen minutes that we were a player down due to injury. I thought we showed some resilient defensive character tonight.” – Matt Chandler, Redlands United FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 2
Saturday, March 5
Perry Park, Brisbane

Redlands United FC 3 defeat Brisbane Strikers 1

BRISBANE STRIKERS FC

Goals – Shelford DAIS 64’
Yellow cards – Fraser HILLS 55’, Shelford DAIS 58’, Greig HENSLEE 75’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Sebastian USAI, 2. Christopher MAHER (15. Jesse WIEMERS 64’), 4. Jake MARSHALL, 5. Greig HENSLEE, 6. Fraser HILLS, 7. Shelford DAIS, 8. Michael ANGUS, 10. Alistair DAVIS, 13. Sam KNIGHT (23. Samuel BALL 85’), 14. Jake MCLEAN (12. Shaun CARLOS 64’), 18. Trent CLULOW

Unused – 20. Michael WEIER, 21. Samuel JOHNSON

REDLANDS UNITED FC

Goals – Michael LEE 45+1’, own goal 52’, Graham FYFE 73’
Yellow cards - none
Red cards - none
Squad – 1. Brendan WHITE, 2. Michael MCGOWAN, 3. Grant BRIX (12. Adam CHANDER 53’), 4. Kai HALLIDAY, 5. Paul O’BRIEN, 7. Michael LEE, 8. Russell WOODRUFFE (10. Nicolas BECHAR 68’), 9. Stephen GREEN, 11. Graham FYFE, 14. Nicholas DANICIC, 16. Igor SAO JOSE (6. Gregory WARDEN 64’)
Unused – 17. Sam LANGLEY