Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Ray Gardner/Redlands United FC

Northern Fury ended a two-match PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland losing streak to defeat Redlands United 3-1 at Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday.

Corey Waples and Michael Eisenhut scored inside the opening half hour to put Fury ahead at half-time before Joe Thornton secured the win from the penalty spot in the second half.

Both sides made promising starts to the match before Fury increasing took control of the midfield contest.

The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when Waples turned home a cross from close range before Eisenhut doubled the advantage by striking in another cross four minutes later.

Red Devils player-coach Graham Fyfe pulled a goal back with a trademark finish from 18 yards prior to half-time.

However, a Thornton slotted his penalty home with 20 minutes remaining past Brendan White to secure the visitors all three points.

The result extends Redlands' winless start to the season to four matches.

Red Devils player and assistant coach Russell Woodruffe conceded his team simply weren’t up to task against a pumped up Fury outfit.

“They definitely won the midfield and in all honesty I think they wanted that little bit more. We weren’t as connected as we would have liked to be,” Woodruffe explained.

Fury coach Ian Ferguson said he was delighted with achieving his side’s aim of recording six points from their first four games of the season - all played away from home.

“I was really pleased with the whole aspect of the manner of how we played today,” Ferguson enthused.

Listen to the full post-match interviews below.

Redlands United FC  1 (Graham FYFE 43’)
Northern Fury FC  3 (Corey WAPLES 23’, Michael EISENHUT 27’, Joe THORNTON 70’p)