Sawyer stuns Jets
Words: Aaron Cooper
Image: Carl Groenewald
A Harrison Sawyer hat-trick has kept Western Pride’s slim semi-finals chances alive with a 4-0 victory over Moreton Bay United on Saturday night.
The result also puts a dent in the Jets top-four ambitions. The visitors would have jumped to fourth with a win but could now see themselves five points adrift of FNQ FC Heat by the end of the round.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls had the best chance of a scoreless opening half with Jordan Thurtell doing well to keep his effort out late in the first stanza.
The Jets didn’t manage a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes as well as conceding 58% of the possession and the hosts’ dominance was evident when Hayden Mchenery pounced on a poor pass before providing the assist for Sawyer’s first goal.
Fourteen minutes later and the Pride were in dream land with a three-goal advantage as Sawyer converted from the penalty spot before Wenzel-Halls rocketed his first goal of the night past Thurtell two minutes later.
Sawyer then polished off his hat-trick, and the win, two minutes from stoppage time. The Pride could do the Jets a favour when they travel north to face the Heat next Saturday night while the Jets themselves need to bounce back away to Redlands United.
Key Moments
39’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Dylan Wenzell-Halls charges down the left, skips past a defender and sees his shot pushed past the post by Jordan Thurtell.
52’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Hayden Mchenery picks up a stray pass, bombs down the right touch-line and launches a defence-splitting long pass which allows Harrison Sawyer to stab home.
53’ – CHANCE FOR JETS – Max Davison produces a sharp save to push a low shot past the post. The corner is only cleared as far as Rhys Gwynn-Jones who chip the ball narrowly over.
65’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Wenzel-Halls is set free and sees his low shot brilliantly saved by an on-rushing Thurtell, but the save is in vain when a Jets defender is adjudged to have fouled the Pride striker. Sawyer steps up to slap the spot-kick home.
67’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Jacob Minett curls in a cross from the touchline which allows Wenzel-Halls to slip past the Jets defence and blast the ball past Thurtell.
88’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Debutant Dan Hall put in a high pass to Sawyer at the back of the area, who turns and powers the ball off the crossbar and in.
Match Details
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland – Round 17
Saturday, July 8
Briggs Road Sporting Complex
Western Pride 4 (Harrison SAWYER 52’, 65’ pen, 88’, Dylan WENZEL-HALLS 67’)
Moreton Bay United 0
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