Lightning Strikes Thrice
Words: Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers
Image: SWQ Thunder
Brisbane Strikers returned to the top four on Saturday night, defeating cellar-dwellers South West Queensland Thunder 3-0 at Perry Park in the "Lightning Bolt Derby".
Midfielder Jheison Macauce netted the opener for the hosts shortly before half-time before Keenan Duimpies extended the lead after the restart and Matt Thurtell sealed the points in the final minutes.
Strikers went into the match with much-changed line-up to that which succumbed 2-1 to Brisbane City last Sunday.
They dominated proceedings and created many scoring chances in the first half but took until the 39th minute to make the breakthrough when Macauce beat Thunder goalkeeper Michael Pike from close range after accepting a pass from Thurtell.
In the early minutes of the second half the Strikers turned up the tempo as Alex Schiavo blazed a 20 yard strike over Pike’s crossbar before Thurtell’s again opened up the visitors by playing Schiavo through on goal who was brought down in the penalty area.
Duimpies stepped up to slot the penalty – his second penalty in two weeks and third this season.
Thunder briefly threatened in response as skipper Nathan Knox volleyed a corner kick over the crossbar from 10 yards, however the home team continued to dictate the terms of the contest
Thurtell remained busy up front, hitting the post and seeing another shot deflect narrowly wide of the target as Strikers sought to secure the points.
He eventually gained his reward with three minutes remaining, benefitting from a mis-strike from fullback Scot Coulson to dribble into the penalty area and delivering an assured finish for his 12th goal of the campaign.
The three points lifts Strikers to third in the standings, wedged between fellow capital city clubs Olympic FC and Brisbame City.
Thunder remain anchored to the bottom of the table and still searching for their first competition points in their inaugural NPL Queensland campaign.
Brisbane Strikers 3 (Jheison MACAUCE 39’, Keenan DUIMPIES 52’(p), Matt THURTELL 87’)
SWQ Thunder 0
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