Fury’s pride hit for five
“A KICK in the guts” is the only way the Northern Fury have described their 5- 1 loss at the hands of a firing Western Pride.
Dreams of launching a late charge into the Queensland NPL finals are all but over for the Fury after Saturday night’s result at Brolga Park, and the going will only get tougher with this weekend’s home against the second- placed Brisbane Strikers.
The Fury are the latest in a string of NPL teams to endure a heavy defeat at the hands of the sublime Pride, who are now shaping as premiership dark horses following Saturday’s latest win to make it five on the trot.
Leading 2- 0 at halftime through goals from Mitchell Bird, who slotted his shot into the bottom corner, and Jesse Rigby’s header on the halfhour mark, the Force weathered a resurgent Fury to bag another quick double midway through the half.
The blows came from Jacob Minett and Dylan WenzelHalls, who made it two with less than five minutes from full- time.
Fury’s Ben Horrocks scored an injury time consolation goal, beating the opposition goal keeper with a sensational 35m chip.
“It was a bitter pill to swallow,” Fury captain Corey Waples said.
“As a collective we were not good enough, and now we have a big game against the Strikers.
“We went into it pretty confident and our preparation was good, so there’s no excuses.
“At halftime we weren’t happy but we still felt like we were in with a chance.
“When they got their third goal it was a kick in the guts, and the fourth really hurt.
“Our heads dropped a bit, which is not our character and that was disappointing to see.”
The Force are now within a win of entering the NPL top four, which appears inevitable given the way they dismantled the Fury, who remain eighth.
The Fury are still a mathematical chance for finals given they have an extra game in hand, but Waples said playing positive football was the major goal.
“Mathematically it’s possible but it looks doubtful,” he said.
“We’ll take it game by game and get as many wins as we can.”