NPLM R6: The Points Escape Us At Wolter Park

OUR LIONS MEN WERE DEFEATED 3-1 AGAINST AN IN-FORM MORETON CITY EXCELSIOR SIDE

It was an explosive start at Wolter Park, and neither side wasted time setting the tone of the game.

Luke Borean was called on to make an early save against a powerful freekick as the hosts looked to create danger in the final third. It didn’t take the hosts long, and Zachary Kierpal reeled away to celebrate after skipping haphazardly through several defenders before slotting the ball under Luke Borean for the breakthrough.

In our first clear chance of the game and an immediate attempt to respond, Jack Skinner sent a clipped ball into the left peg. Minutes later, we gave away a penalty, and Zachary Kierpal sent Luke Borean the wrong way to double their advantage.

We applied pressure in search of a chance that would pull us back into contention, but as Finn Beakhurst’s freekick missed by a fraction, we entered the break with a 2-0 lead to overturn.

We tried to pick up momentum in the second half, knowing we were facing a mountain to climb against a Moreton City Excelsior side yet to lose a single point.

Emmett Shaw saw a sharp cross cleared off the goal-line, and Jack Skinner saw an electric strike saved by the keeper. Trent Millard saw a great chance glide over the crossbar following a corner, and Moreton City made it 3-0 to worsen our troubles.

With fifteen minutes remaining, it was Andy Pengelly who recovered a goal as our Lions Men looked to fight back late. Flicking the ball up with an instinctive touch, Andy volleyed the ball across the keeper and into the far side-netting to score his 150th NPL goal. A massive achievement and a testament to his brilliant goal-scoring ability over the years in Queensland.

Another strong effort from Trent Millard sailed over the crossbar as we fought for a second goal to bring us closer to redemption. Despite rallying in the final minutes, our Lions Men were forced to accept a frustrating 3-1 defeat on the road.