Redlands United travelled down to Cararra on Wednesday evening to play the current league leaders and the 2022 Grand Final Champions, Gold Coast Knights on a very cold evening in their twice re-scheduled NPL Men’s Round 15 fixture.
A very slick and polished performance saw Knights score 2 goals in a 5 minute period with 20 minutes to go before scoring a 3rd late in the game. The Red Devils were not over awed and had played extremely well for 65 minutes before Knights found the opening.
The Red Devils started strongly as in the 1st minute and gave Knights a real scare when Peter Klaassen went down the right side after Ryo Emoto stole the ball and sent him away catching the Knight’s defense on the wrong foot. Klaassen played the ball across the face of goal eluding the surging runs and out stretched feet of Fionn Reilly and Jack Skinner by bare millimeters.
It was a tough and entertaining encounter with both sides producing some fast, exciting play and good football. Redlands were just unable to manage the final touch that would put them back into the game. Redland keeper Ryan Govan put in a superb display pulling off some great saves to deny the rampaging Knights attack, marshalling his defense to keep the Champions scoreless for 65 minutes.
Both sides continued to move the ball around in a fast tempo game with Redlands looking to get onto the scoreboard, but to no avail. Gold Coast Knights ran out winners on the night 3-0, Redlands falling to a strong Knights performance, on a night that just did not go their way.
Redlands’ Fiction Bar and Restaurant, Man of the Match was awarded to our No 11, Deane Alterio, who put in a sterling effort in the unfamiliar fullback role.
Redlands now re-group for their Saturday evening away clash against 3rd placed side Moreton Bay United at Wolter Park at Albany Creek for their Round 17 NPL Men’s fixture.
