Saturday Evening’s Round 3 NPL Men’s clash with the Brisbane Roar FC at the Compass Grounds in Cleveland did not disappoint in excitement value. With the supporter groups of both sides in fine voice the atmosphere at Compass Grounds lifted the players from both teams.
Straight from the opening whistle the Red Devils came out fast and applied the pressure on the Roar.
The 1st 25 minutes of the game was a tightly fought affair with both sides creating half chances and the defenses shutting down the opportunities. Redlands best chance came in the 23rd minute when Ryo Emoto won the ball on the edge of the Roar penalty box, drove forward, drawing in the defenders, he squared the ball to Peter Klaassen whose placed shot towards the far corner of the goal was saved by the diving keeper.
It was however, the Roar that opened the scoring a few minutes later through Jack Benham. Roar played down their Left side, beat a defender and crossed into the middle to an unmarked Benham who made no mistake to give the Roar the lead. Despite continuing to push the Roar hard Redlands were unable to reduce the deficit and Roar took a 1 goal lead into the break.
The second half continued in the same fashion, in a tight hard fought encounter with Redlands digging deep in defense and pushing hard trying to create chances looking for an equalizer.
With 57 minutes gone Redlands keeper Will Smith was called into action to make a point blank save and the defense forced the follow up shot up and over the bar.
The last 20 minutes of the game was mostly all Redlands as the Red Devils increased the pressure on the Roar pressing hard but not able to find the final touch on goal.
James Bonomi’s drive from wide in the box went just over the bar, Josh Tufino’s headed effort went just over, Tufino’s deflected low drive produced a diving save from the Roar keeper and Max Ellenger’s headed effort from a long throw was tipped over the bar.
Six minutes of extra time was played totally in the Roar’s half as the Red Devils pushed hard for the equalizer. It finally came after 6 minutes of extra time and continual Redlands pressure, through Ellenger. Ryo Emoto’s high ball into the Roar’s penalty box found Ellenger whose header into the bottom corner beat the Roar keeper and sent the home fans into raptures. A further minute of extra time was played and it ended all square a 1-1 securing a share of the points for the Red Devils.
After the game Redlands United Head Coach Griff Mansfield had this to say “Another point for our first team to build on. It’s great to see the support out here for the team on match day and the great atmosphere they create”.
Next weekend Redlands are at home again when they host Sunshine Coast Wanderers at the Compass Grounds in Round 4 of the NPL Men’s competition. Kick Off is at 6pm on Saturday with the Under 23’s at 3.45pm. This should be another blockbuster of a game. Let’s get the Devils Den rocking, so get your red on and be there to cheer and support your Red Devils.
Redlands United:
20. Will Smith, 3. Max Ellenger, 6. Sam Langley, 8. James Bonomi, 9. Peter Klaassen,
10. Ryo Emoto, 11. Josh Tufino, 12. Noah Hitchcock, 14. Lee-Navu Faunt, 18. Oohyun Park,
21. Benji Cameron. Reserves: 1. Kurt Huppert, 2. Reece Bath, 7. Guil Santana, 16. Eamonn Ross, 17. Mason Cross , 19. Dylan Mobbs
