REDLANDS United produced their most complete performance of the season to date, dismantling North Star 5-0 at Amcal Arena on Saturday night to surge into the top four of the FQPL ladder.
The Red Devils wasted no time setting the tone, striking inside three minutes when Jayden Balarezo forced the ball home from a corner to hand the hosts an early advantage.
Despite the fast start, North Star refused to roll over and pushed hard to respond.
Goalkeeper Oli Thiganoff was called into action, producing two sharp saves in quick succession as the visitors threatened to level.
But Redlands’ defensive structure held firm, and their pressure soon began to tell at the other end.
Midway through the first half, sustained attacking pressure forced a North Star error, with the visitors turning the ball into their own net to double the lead.
North Star continued to surge forward in patches, but Redlands remained composed, absorbing pressure before striking again just before the break.
A well-worked corner on 40 minutes found Noah Hitchcock at the far post, the defender diving to head home and give the Red Devils a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Redlands controlling both possession and territory.
Just before the hour mark, Mack Roach — making his first start of the season — found space centrally, drove forward, and unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box to make it four.
Freddie Cruise capped off the performance in the final minute of regulation time, battling past his defender before racing clear and calmly finishing to seal a dominant 5-0 result.
Head coach Graham Fyfe said after the match he was “buzzing” with the performance, noting the scoreline reflected just how well his side executed across the full 90 minutes.
He said it was never easy to win games — let alone by five goals — but believed this was the side’s most complete display so far this season.
Fyfe pointed to the team’s balance as the key, highlighting their work off the ball, sharp transitions, and quality in possession.
He also noted the positive energy across the squad, with both starters and substitutes contributing to the overall performance.
There was praise for Roach, who marked his first start with a standout display and a goal, though Fyfe admitted selecting a man of the match was difficult given the collective effort.
He said the focus now quickly turns to the next challenge, with the squad looking to build momentum and continue improving week to week while enjoying their football and representing Redlands with pride.
Redlands United return to action on Thursday night in the Kappa Queensland Cup, travelling to face Capalaba Bulldogs at John Fredericks Park. Kick-off is set for 7.30pm.
