LATE, LATE SHOW WINS IT FOR MUSGRAVE

Musgrave 4 (Neligen, De Amorin, Hustwayte, D’Agostino)

Surfers Paradise 2 (Fujimori, Dart)

HT 1:2

MUSGRAVE are now the only unbeaten side in the Buffalo Sports Premier League, but they needed to come from behind against a determined Surfers Paradise to keep their record intact.

The result will leave Surfers Coach Keith Garland and his players bemused as to quite how they managed to walk away with nothing from a game they led, and dominated, for long periods.

Surfers looked to be heading towards a famous first win of the season as they held a 2-1 lead with just ten minutes remaining, but once Felipe De Amorin equalised for Musgrave the floodgates unexpectedly opened.

Garland’s men were off to the best possible start with Taketo Fujimori firing in a crisp free-kick after just two minutes. Surfers weathered the initial storm from the home side and grew in confidence as Garland bellowed instructions from the dugout.

On 25 minutes Tim Dart latched on to Scott Cairney’s right wing cross and delighted his team-mates with a smart finish to double Surfers’ lead and set the course towards a morale-boosting win.

All was going to plan for the visitors until Musgrave plundered a controversial goal in the final minute of the half.

A long, speculative effort from Musgrave’s Steve Neligen took Surfers Paradise ‘keeper Jacob Logan by surprise as he retreated over his goal line when palming the ball to safety. The assistant referee’s flag was immediately raised, indicating the ball had crossed the line, and Musgrave were handed an unexpected lifeline.

In the second half Surfers looked comfortable against their high-flying opponents and on the hour they should have secured all three points with a string of chances.

Musgrave ‘keeper Federico Sienra was the hero for his side though when he tipped over a goal-bound header from Joshua Davis, then denied Surfers again with a superb double save after his defence failed to clear a corner.

Other chances followed and ultimately cost Surfers the points as Musgrave threw all hands to the pump for a final assault. De Amorin went close on 78 minutes and made amends just a couple of minutes later when he stole in to poke the ball under the advancing Logan.

The equaliser sapped the confidence of the visitors and their worst fears were confirmed when Musgrave hit the front in their next attack.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match though; a bullet of a shot from 25 metres by Ashley Hustwayte that left Logan grasping at thin air.

The action in the final ten minutes of the contest continued as Surfers’ defender Joel Jansen received his marching orders, and right at the death James D’Agostino piled on more agony when he added a fourth for Musgrave.

The win keeps Oscar Langone’s side in second place on the Buffalo Sports Premier League ladder, just one point behind leaders Magic Utd.

Cold comfort for Keith Garland and his players who stay rooted to the foot of the ladder, but on this evidence a first win of the season is only around the corner.