Redlands United have fallen short against Moreton Bay United in their round 17 NPL clash at Albany Creek.
It was a strange game with Redlands creating more of the play and more scoring opportunities but trailing at half time thanks to Moreton Bay’s only shot on goal in the half.
The Red Devils started strongly and gave the home side a real scare when Peter Klaassen played the ball across the face of goal, eluding the outstretched feet of Redlands players by inches.
Jack Skinner went close a short time later when he also fired off a shot across the face of goal, just missing the far post.
The first 30 minutes was constant pressure by Redlands as Moreton Bay defended with eight or nine players in the box, giving the Red Devils no room for a clean shot.
Then on 32 minutes Moreton Bay got their goal when Joe Scott, against the run of play, fired in a rocket of a shot from outside the box.
Redlands didn’t drop their heads and continued to press on. A few minutes before half time Ryo Emoto had a chance from outside the box which just creased the top side of the cross bar.
The second stanza continued in much the same vein as the first, with Redlands dominating the play but unable to score.
Only a few minutes into the half Deane Alterio picked up a loose ball and drove forward. His shot from just outside the box struck the cross bar and was cleared away by the scrambling defence.
Five minutes later Redlands thought they had scored when a header had the keeper beaten, only for the ball to be cleared off the line in a last gasp effort.
Minutes later Moreton Bay scored their second goal when Redlands were unable to properly clear the ball from within their penalty box, seeing it fall straight to a Moreton Bay player who made no mistake with his shot.
Redlands continued to create scoring opportunities but were continually thwarted by the crowding defence or their keeper Matt Lugo, who pulled off some superb saves.
The Red Devils finally had their penalty when Emoto took the ball into the box and was pulled down.
Dylan Brent made no mistake with the spot kick, reducing the deficit with basically the last play of the match as Moreton Bay took the spoils 2-1.
