Coach calls for cautious approach after consecutive defeats Fury hungry for points
THE Northern Fury will hit the road this weekend knowing now is not the time to throw caution to the wind.
Smarting from two consecutive Queensland NPL defeats and last weekend’s 3- 0 loss to FNQ Heat in the FFA Cup, the Northern Fury are desperate for a result.
Whether it be a win or draw doesn’t matter for acting Fury coach Charlie Melville, just as long as they don’t come back from Brisbane with nothing.
The Fury play third- placed Brisbane Olympic tomorrow and travel without first- choice players Mitchell Maher and Tom Pearce, who are recovering from injury.
Maher was forced to withdraw from last weekend’s FFA Cup with a knee injury just minutes before kick- off, forcing Melville into four team changes.
Fury skipper Corey Waples is still two to three weeks away after suffering a knee injury recently, leaving the Fury no choice but to delve into their under- 20 ranks.
Local talent Liam Brady will travel to Brisbane and take his place on the Fury bench, and could get minutes depending on circumstances.
“I’ve said to the boys we start the game with a ( competition) point, so either we keep it, let it go or get a win,” Melville said.
“At training we’ve taken the approach of being on the receiving end rather than attack ... getting people behind the ball and scoring on the breakaway.
“It’s caution; we can’t just go flat chat in every game.”
The Fury surged to third earlier in the season, but their recent losses to Gold Coast City ( 2- 0) and Brisbane Strikers ( 7- 1) have seen them drop to seventh on the NPL ladder.
But all is not lost for the Fury.
Possessing a 4- 4 win- loss record — a record that last year’s winless squad could only dream of — the Fury will host two consecutive home games following tomorrow’s clash.
Win those and the Fury will set themselves up for a solid charge at finals, casting further light on Melville’s willingness for the Fury to shut up shop tomorrow.
Olympic ( six wins, two losses) are unbeaten at home this year, and the best result scored by a visiting team was a 2- all draw secured by Moreton Bay.
“Olympic are going really well,” Melville said.
“They’re one of those teams that have luxury of being able to dig into the Brisbane local leagues, which is a couple of leagues above ours.
“We’re down to about 13- 14 guys and we can only use what we’ve got, but that’s our situation and that’s all there is to it.”
Fury goalkeeping coach Ken Mitchell will guide the team in Brisbane, with Melville unable to travel and head coach Paul Roncato soon to return from an overseas trip. FORGET bacon and eggs in bed, there’s one Townsville family who will continue a far healthier Mother’s Day tradition this weekend.
Three generations of the family will line up in tomorrow’s Mother’s Day Fun Run and Walk, held over 5.2km at Aitkenvale’s Rossiter Park.
Jenny Rossato’s 71 years doesn’t prevent her running around 10km each day. Her daughter Emma Costello and grandchildren Poppy, 10, and Matilda, 9, will also take part in the event which raises money for the McGrath Foundation.
“Mum started running when she was about 40 and she’s still going,” Emma Costello said.
“She’s out every day doing something.
“I’m a GP registrar so I always encourage everyone to get out and move as much as they can.
“It’s a good distance because the kids generally can’t run it all and the oldies catch up.
“Poppy would have run her first one with me when I was six months pregnant with her.”
The starting gun fires at 7.30am, with registrations opening on- site from 6.30am. Entry is $ 10 for adults and $ 5 for school students.
The Townsville Runners raised more than $ 2500 for the charity last year, which helps to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia.