Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Garry McKenzie
Image: Brisbane Roar FC

Western Pride fought back with two goals in the final quarter hour to snatch a 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar Youth at Briggs Road Complex.

Mitchell Bird and Bonventure Thomas-Remijo both struck in a five minute flurry from the hosts as they overturned Young Roar’s two goal advantage.

Earlier, Young Roar appeared to be cruising after Aaron Reardon opened accounts in the first half before Thomas Miller doubled the lead shortly after the hour.

The result sees Young Roar without a win in their past three outings but despite dropping to ninth in the standings, still remain in the hunt for a maiden top four finish.

Pride remain winless in their past seven matches, but are now 13 points clear of the foot of the ladder as they seek to avoid their first ever wooden spoon.

Key Moments

1’ - CHANCE FOR YOUNG ROAR - A failed Pride clearance finds Thomas Miller lurking at the back of the area but his shot sails over

2’ -  CHANCE FOR YOUNG ROAR – Jesse Daley’s free kick find the diving head of Hayden Mchenery but the ball sails the wrong side of the left post.

6’ - CHANCE FOR PRIDE - Maxime Hoppenot sends a long throw into the penalty area but Joseph Duckworth’s header goes over

21’ - GOAL FOR YOUNG ROAR - A sequence of skied headers in the Pride penalty area eventually falls near Aaron Reardon who managed to stretch out and flick the ball in off the post

32’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE - Duckworth smashes in a curling corner which forces Young Roar goalkeeper Andre Jannese to tip the ball wide

61’ - GOAL FOR YOUNG ROAR - Miller receives the ball in space outside the area and belts a sweet strike which sneaks past diving Pride goalkeeper Duncan Short

75’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE - Duckworth sends a sinking low cross to the far post and into the path of a sliding Mitchell Bird to turn home

80’ - GOAL FOR PRIDE - Wren May’s cross-turned-shot forces Jannese to backpedal and tip the ball away and in the ensuing scramble Bonventure Thomas-Remijo reacts quickest to poke the ball across the line

What They Said

“I thought we were in relative control of the game for a good 70 minutes. When they scored momentum obviously swung and then by the end of that we might have been lucky to get a point. We had a pretty rough game last week and I asked the players for a response, and tonight they gave a decent response.” – Josh McCloughan, Brisbane Roar FC Youth coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 17

Saturday, July 9
Briggs Road Complex, Ipswich

Western Pride FC – 2 (Mitchell BIRD 75’, Bonventure THOMAS-REMIJO 80’)
Brisbane Roar FC Youth – 2 (Aaron REARDON 21’, Thomas MILLER 66’)

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/29U2HOi

Match Officials – Rachel MITCHENSON (referee), Kehan RYLEY (assistant), Alex HOHN (assistant), Ryan MOONEY (fourth)