Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Sam Attwood/Sunshine Coast FC

Sunshine Coast FC recorded their first win in eleven outings after seeing off Western Pride FC 1-0 at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Fire’s leading goalscorer for 2015, Jacob Fulluck, netted the decisive goal midway through the first half to help his club record their first win since May.

The result marks a second straight defeat for Pride, who now remain only a faint mathematical possibility of qualifying for a maiden PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series appearance this season.

Kicking off in windy conditions, Pride started positively with club leading goalscorer Harrison Sawyer testing Fire goalkeeper Kevin Downes in the opening minutes.

Pride failed to make the most of another chance after the quarter hour as Fire goalkeeper Kevin Downes denied a deflected shot from Sawyer.

Fire opened accounts against the run of play prior to the half hour as Fulluck took advantage of an error from Pride’s Jesse Rigbyt to notch his ninth goal of the season.

Pride continued to see the better of the chances until the break - including a goal ruled out for offside - but proved unable to equalise against a determined Fire defensive effort.

Further chances presented for Pride in the second half, but the equaliser continued to prove elusive. as Mitchell Bird saw an early attempt blocked by Downes.

Fire also spurned opportunities to double their advantage as the half progressed - Ray Schultz sending a free-kick just over the crossbar and Kenya Takahashi blazing high and wide from a promising position.

Further exchanges failed to alter the scoreline as injuries to Fire’s Grant de Chastel and Jared Moore forced substitutions for the hosts.

However, Fire held on through an extended period of time added on for Downes to keep the team’s first clean sheet since the opening round.

Speaking post-match, Fire goal scorer Fulluck expressed his relief at ending Fire’s worst run of results in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland history.

“At the final whistle, just seeing everyone with a smile on their face - we haven’t seen that in a long while,” Fulluck said.

Pride captain Rigby said his side were well in the match throughout but failed to make the most of their chances.

“We’ve got room for improvement. We are playing well in patches but we just need to stick the ball away,” Rigby said.

Sunshine Coast FC  1 (Jacob FULLUCK 23')
Western Pride FC  0