Brisbane strikes down Thunder

South West Queensland dominate clash with Brisbane Strikers before losing close encounter.

FOOTBALL: Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the South West Queensland Thunder on Saturday.

Hoping to record their fourth straight win, the Thunder fell 2-1 to Brisbane Strikers at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

ON TARGET: Travis Cooper opens the scoring for South West Queensland Thunder against Brisbane Strikers in their NPL Queensland clash at Toowoomba's Clive Berghofer Stadium. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Travis Cooper opened the scoring in the sixth minute - his sweetly struck ball from the left hand edge of the 18-yard box finding the opposite corner of the net.

The Thunder created numerous chances in the first half - the best a powerful Chris Hatfield shot that struck the crossbar in the 16th minute - and scrambled well in defence.

Brisbane strikes down Thunder

VIEW GALLERY

They were more than a match for their Brisbane opponents, dominating large sections of play, but were bought undone by a messy eight minute period late in the game.

"It (the loss) is painful," Cooper said.

"Unfortunately we probably sat back a bit too much in the second half and we let them come at us.

"In the first half we hit the post, we hit the crossbar. In the second half if Daniel Weber scored it's a completely different game.

"Unfortunately they got one, the momentum shifts and they get a second."

It took a superbly struck Jake McLean free kick to draw Strikers level in the 79th minute.

Lining up just outside of the 18-yard box, McLean's strike flew over the Thunder wall to find the top left hand corner of the goal.

The match turned scrappy after the goal as both teams fought to score the winner.

Strikers capitalised on the broken play scoring the winner in the 87th minute - an unmarked Greig Henslee shot heading home at the back post off a Strikers corner.

"We just need to lift our heads and get back on a winning streak again," Cooper said.

"We looked comfortable with the 1-0 lead and in the last 15 minutes of the first half we destroyed.

"If got one more chance and made it 2-0 at an earlier stage it's a different game.

"Full credit to the boys, they're digging in on and off the park.

"Unfortunately we have to take this loss on the chin but now we move on and focus on next week."

Originally published as Brisbane strikes down Thunder