Friday night saw a game between Douglas United and Marlin Coast in the FNQ Football Third Division at Cassowary Park. The game would be a very up and down affair for both teams with the points being shared at full time.

The game would start on a negative note for Douglas as they took part in the most disappointing thirty minutes of any game they had played this season. Only five minutes and a real lack of communication would provide Marlin Coast with an easy opportunity to knock the ball into the net to make the game 1-0.

Then, just a few minutes later, Marlin Coast had the Douglas lads to thank once again as they got handed a chance to make it 2-0 and that they did on the ten minute mark.

The Dragons, seemingly stuck in the blocks at this point, already had a big task facing them on the night with a few familiar faces rested for the start of the finals next week. This ten minute sloppy start had done them no favours whatsoever.

Still unable to get a foot hold on any level in the game Douglas once again watched as Marlin Coast, just before the half hour mark, would make it 3-0. Douglas had gone all season without producing anything close to this type of poor performance but on the last regular game of the season all seemed to be going wrong.

Just before the half James Turner would put a set piece into the box and it would be put in to the back of the net by Jack Miller for the Dragons taking the game to 3-1. It could easily be argued that Douglas had been lucky to not be down by more than two goals at the half.

At half time the changes for Douglas showed that they wanted a big change in the second half as a few more familiar faces were introduced, most notably Eugene Brown, Ross Hardie, Ben Syrette and Jordan Butters.

Only minutes after kick off for the second half Douglas was awarded a penalty. James Turner would grab the ball and quickly step up to take it, only to see his effort bounce back into play off the framework of the goal.

Soon after the penalty miss some great wing play by Nick Despres set Matty Wray the simple chance of tapping the ball into a empty net from a couple of yards out and he did not disappoint and took the game to 3-2 in Marlin Coast favour.

Want more ways to stay in touch? Join us on Facebook

Douglas really had the bit between their teeth at this point and had been pushing Marlin Coast really hard in search of an equalizer. With around twenty minutes left they got what they had been looking for when Jack Miller got his second on the night to bring the game level at 3-3 with a tidy finish at the back post.

Then, with around ten minutes left, a moment that Douglas could have only dreamed of at 3-0 down. The ball played across the face of the goal by Nick Despres would fall to Daniel Ferrero at the far post and he would keep his nerve and finish well to put the Dragons up 4-3.

The comeback was complete and Douglas were all set to tell the story of a great winning comeback, that was until with only two minutes left Marlin coast produced a special goal out of nowhere to bring the game to 4-4, which is where the game would end.

Although it could not be said this game was Douglas' finest performance it was surely the most exciting game the spectators had seen Douglas in all season.

The Paddys Irish Bar Man of the match award would go to Nick Despres who was a real threat for Dragons down the right hand side.

Douglas start the first phase of finals this weekend when they travel to Dimbulah on Friday night.