Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Callum Dick
Image: Scott Norrish

Brisbane City missed the chance to reclaim fourth spot on the league table after being held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Fury at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.

The hosts dominated the chances throughout the contest - including twice hitting the crossbar and seeing a goal disallowed - but ultimately were unable to get the better of their bottom-of-the-table opponents.

The result marks the first clean sheet for Fury this season as the Townsville club continues to search for their first league win of the year.

City now find themselves one point adrift of the top four with four matches remaining in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues regular season.

Key Moments

6’ – CHANCE FOR FURY - Corey Waples' free kick nearly beats City goal keeper Timothy Allen but the gloveman is up to task to make an acrobatic stop

13’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Kai Smith flies high in the area to power a header towards goal but Fury goalkeeper Ryan Murphy is up to task

24’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Mathew Biggins has a gilt-edged chance to open accounts with an unmarked header barely six yards out but can only find the crossbar

43’ – CHANCE FOR CITY - Luke Pavlou is gifted a shot when the ball falls outside the box, but the midfielder rushes the striker and the ball flies high of the target

63’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – A solid build-up sees the ball end with Mitchell Hore in a promising position inside the penalty area but he sends his shot wide under pressure

66’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – Michael Eisenhut hits a powerful strike from outside the penalty area that forces a diving save from Allen

69’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Smith heads the ball across the line but it is disallowed after the referee awards a free-kick to Fury for a holding foul

77’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – Waples is played through on goal by Eisenhut and is brought down in a strong tackle but the appeals for a penalty go unheeded

84’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – A deflection falls kindly for Smith inside the penalty area but his poked effort is cleared off the line by a scrambling Murphy

87’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – Koh Satake gets through one-on-one with Murphy, but his somewhat timid shot is directed straight at the Fury gloveman

90+2’ – CHANCE FOR CITY – The hosts come agonisingly close to taking the win at the death as Scot Coulson’s header is flicked behind and off the crossbar

What They Said

“It was a result we didn’t need. We played well enough but you got to be able to break down teams like that at times. We probably lost it in the first half because the longer the game went on and the more pressure we put on then the more they would drop deep. Maybe a little bit of luck went against us as well, but you do make your own luck. We’ve got Gold Coast next week and it’s a must-win game now.“ – John Kosmina, Brisbane City FC coach

“I’m delighted to get a point down here – it’s a tough place to come to get any points. The performance was resolute today and the boys defended really well. It’s the first time this season they worked as a unit. They kept their discipline, kept their shape and (City) found it tough to break us down. “ – Ian Ferguson, Northern Fury FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 18

Saturday, July 23
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane

Brisbane City FC – 0
Northern Fury FC – 0

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/29Zogvc

Match Officials – Casey REIBALT (referee), Daniele POTTICARY (assistant), Vicky CLARK (assistant), Jacquie HURFORD (fourth)