Brownlie Winner Moves Creek Into Top 4
Albany Creek 1 (Brownlie 45+1')
Eastern Suburbs 0
HT 1-0
Played at: Wolter Park
Royce Brownlie's header in first half stoppage time proved sufficient for all three points as Albany Creek move into the top 4 on the Flight Centre Premier League ladder with a 1-0 success over Eastern Suburbs on Saturday afternoon. The visitors were denied an early penalty shout when Jordan Farina looked to have been tripped in the box by a Creek defender but Sunshine Coast Referee Ben Cook waived away the appeals as the half then crumbled into a scrappy affair littered with mistakes from both sides. An injury to Yasuyuki Fujimoto forced Creek into a first half substitution with Jordan Wust entering the contest as his replacement shortly after the half hour. The game stuttered into life late in the first half when Brownlie tricked his way into making his opponent make a challenge which resulted in a free kick towards the corner flag. Takeru Saito delivering in a firm cross which was met by Brownlie who powered his header past goal keeper Thomas Sullivan who was between the sticks in the place of regular keeper Jack Richards for this game. It was Creek's one and only attempt on goal in the entire half but was enough to see them go into the break ahead. Up until that point, the height of entertainment rested with the theatrics of Creek keeper Behzad Ariayee Ravesh who twice threatened to require a stretcher after clashing with Farina on each occasion, only to spring to his feet with a miraculous recovery each time. Easts pressed in the second term as Farina had two good opportunities to level the scores within the space of four minutes. His first chance coming from a clever through ball to the Tiger's striker who was able to round Ariayee Ravesh on the edge of the box but as he was forced wide, he could only guide his effort into the side netting. Shortly after, a close range strike was well saved by Ariayee Ravesh as another chance went begging for the visitors. Chom Arop had a couple of consecutive opportunities to seal the game for Creek late on but saw the first saved and the second drift just wide of Sullivan's left hand post. It's a game that certainly will not sit for long in the memory banks of those baring witness to it. Both sides were evenly matched but as has been the case so far in recent years, Easts have struggled to make an impact early in a season. A draw would have been a fair result as neither side deserved to win. Next week they'll have to step up their game with the visit of Rochedale Rovers, whilst Creek head to Grange Thistle for a game they'll expect to win.
Coaches Remarks:
Pouria Nabi - Albany Creek: "It was a scrappy game but the boys worked very hard. We defended really well second half and kept our structure and got the result." Steve Glockner - Eastern Suburbs: "It was disappointing. I thought we were good for a draw. They didn't create anything in the first half until a free kick late in the half which they score from. But, we had our opportunities, we just lacked quality in front of goal today. We're our worst enemy at the moment."
FB Media Player of the Match: Royce Brownlie (Albany Creek).
In a game bereft to stand out performances, Brownlie's efforts bely his age as he looks a dangerous competitor at this level and always capable of producing something.
Match Stats:
Overall Possession: 56% - 44%
Shots on target: 3 - 4
Shots off target: 5 - 11
Corners: 2 - 6
Free kicks: 12 - 15
Offsides: 1 - 0
Yellow cards: 3 - 1
Red cards: 0 - 0 Team line-ups
Albany Creek: Ariayee Ravesh (gk), Arop, Brownlie, Fujimoto (Wust 35'), Ismail. AR. (Ismail. AA. 88'), Keslake, Maguire, Morris, Piddock, Saito, Vesey.
Subs: Gwynn-Jones (rgk), Lightbody, Ismail. AA., Wust (Lightbody 64'), Hammad.
Eastern Suburbs: Sullivan (gk), Amano, Barnett, Farina, Flavin, Romyn (Rahman 67'), Sansucie (Stone 74'), Sewell, Son, Yango (Fulton 72').
Subs: Harrison (rgk), Fulton, Rahman, Stone. REFEREE: Ben Cook (Sunshine Coast)
