On a chilly evening in Baringa, Noosa Lions delivered a dominant performance to secure a 5–1 win and keep momentum building ahead of next week’s top-of-the-table clash with Caloundra.
The visitors made a fast start, with Nick Cookman unleashing a thunderous strike from outside the box into the top corner to open the scoring. Despite a hard, uneven surface, Noosa’s midfield moved the ball fluently, creating a series of early chances. Oli Williams went close with a left-footed shot, Sam Boldy fired just wide, and Mitch Bridge saw his header loop over the bar.
In the 27th minute, Max Adey doubled the lead, reacting quickest to a goalmouth scramble to poke home. Noosa continued to press, with Boldy rattling the crossbar from range and Matt Thompson denied by the keeper after a clever pass from Williams.
The Lions remained in control after the break, and Thompson again went close, forcing two solid saves. Baringa offered more resistance in the second half and almost got back into the game, but Cameron Boldy made a key save with his legs just after the hour mark.
Coaches Digwood and Williams rang the changes, bringing on Jack Williams and Ben Moffat. Williams nearly made an instant impact, forcing a corner from a strong shot. From that set piece, Adey’s angled shot rebounded into the path of Bridge, who appeared to score, but the assistant referee ruled the effort out. Bridge was then sin-binned, reducing Noosa to ten men, but the Lions continued to press forward.
Their third goal finally came in the 83rd minute after a slick counterattack. Adey threaded a perfect pass for Williams, whose shot crashed off the crossbar and back to Adey, who slotted home his second. Soon after, Williams got on the scoresheet himself, lifting the ball over the keeper for Noosa’s fourth.
Baringa pulled one back in the closing minutes, but Noosa had the final say. Takaishi and Moffat combined down the left with a brilliant exchange, and Moffat smashed in Noosa’s fifth to cap off a fine display.
Next weekend, Noosa host Caloundra in a highly anticipated showdown, with Under-23s kicking off at 4pm and the Men’s at 6pm.
