Warriors stage epic comeback

WARRIORS have leapt back to the top of the North Queensland Premier League table after staging an incredible late fightback in a 5- 3 win over Saints at Melrose Park on Saturday.

Down 3- 1 after 84 minutes, Warriors slammed home four goals in 13 minutes to claim all three points, with Jake Navarro bagging a double.

Warriors gave up the league lead with a 2- 1 loss to Rebels last week, but now hold a one- point advantage over Rebels after they were beaten 4- 2 by third- placed MA Olympic.

Saints coach Paul Szabo said second- half fade- outs had been a major issue for his side all season, but he hadn’t given up hope of them making their mark on the league.

The loss puts fourth- placed Saints’ top- four spot in jeopardy after Wulguru and Brothers both moved to within two points of them with dominant wins over Ingham and Burdekin, respectively.

“It’s second- half doldrums and it’s something we have to work out, which I think we will,” Szabo said.

“We’re obviously maybe out of the running for the premiership, but we’re not totally out of it.

“They ( Warriors) had a fair few chances in the first half to score, and they didn’t take them.”

Szabo described Warriors’ equalising goal as “controversial” after a foul call was initially ruled in their favour by the referee, before the linesman overturned it.

Navarro made no mistake from his free kick and Warriors went on with the job with added- time goals from Jahya Hilton- Mckeown and Navarro.

“The 3- all ( goal) was a controversial decision. Our goalie and their striker came together in a 50- 50 challenge, the referee gave us a free kick but the linesman overturned it,” Szabo said.

In the Women’s Premier League, Brothers thrashed Burdekin 6- 2, Saints annihilated Warriors 9- 0, and Rebels and MA Olympic played out a scoreless draw.