North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson said he was ecstatic with a point after what he described as a poor first half in the Fury’s 1-1 draw with Central Coast on Saturday night.
Ferguson said a first-half onslaught from the Mariners could’ve easily seen the home side take a commanding lead into the break at Bluetongue stadium. As it stood, the Fury were still in it with scores level at 1-1.
“We were a bit fortunate. I thought the Mariners just outplayed us in the first half and probably created three or four really good chances and we were lucky to come in at half-time 1-1,” Ferguson said after the match.
“And I let the boys know that in no uncertain terms it wasn’t a good performance. That was probably the worst I’ve seen us play in the first half. “
The result puts the Fury on 25 points and keeps them within touch of the finals, although they are still outside the six.
“But we got a response in the second half which was good,” he added. “We kept the ball and I think we created three or four really good chances. And Daniel McBreen was unlucky towards the end.”
“There was pleasing stuff and I was reasonably happy in the second half. It was a lot better.”
Fury striker Jeremy Brockie opened his scoring account for his club to cancel out Nik Mrdja’s third minute header. His shot was deflected in by Mariners defender Brad Porter on 19 minutes to keep the visitors in the contest during a frenetic opening 30 minutes.
Ferguson described the Kiwi international – who is hoping to make the New Zealand squad for the World Cup later this year – as turning into a ‘big player’ for the North Queensland-based club.
“He’s played the last five or six games and I’m hoping he can play for us week-in-week-out and hopefully for his sake get to the World Cup,” said Ferguson.
“So it’s most vital for him that he plays week in week out and I was really pleased with him.”
Brockie added that it was his performances with the Fury over the next few months would be the deciding factor in his World Cup aspirations.
“Now that the first goal’s gone in I [hopefully] can get on that plane to South Africa. In recent weeks I’ve had some chances but they haven’t fell in the right direction for me,” he said after the game.
Fury marquee man Robbie Fowler played just in behind lone striker Dyron Daal in what Ferguson said was a tactical move.
Ferguson said the Mariners’ rigid back-four was the reason why he played the former England and Liverpool great slightly deeper.
“We knew with Robbie in the hole he could play some balls through and he did that – especially in the second half,” he said.
“That was in my plans for how to break them down. I thought he did well tonight, especially in the second half.”
