The Verri Industries Douglas United Dragons have given themselves a chance at winning the Far North Queensland Premier League by coming from behind to beat leaders Marlin Coast 2-1 at Cassowary Park on Saturday night in front of a large, boisterous crowd.

The winning goal, coming in the last minute of normal time, was not without controversy however, with a debate over whether or not the ball crossed the line after it had struck the underside of the crossbar.

It matters little to the Dragons though as the goal was given meaning a victory next week away to Innisfail will leave them sweating on Marlin Coast’s result against Edge Hill with Marlin Coast needing to win to guarantee themselves the league title.

Going into the match without regular custodian Gary Fitzgerald, the Dragons knew they would have to provide plenty of protection for Jordan Butterss who was deputising in goal. While Marlin Coast had a lot of the ball early on the Dragons defended well leaving Butterss with little more than sweeping up duties to do.

The Dragons created a couple of half chances from open play and were looking very threatening from set pieces. They should have taken the lead from one corner but Logan Marsh was unable to turn his near post head towards goal.

The scores were locked at 0-0 going into the second half and while Marlin Coast continued to push, the Dragons were starting to knock the ball around nicely and probed away at the opposition defence.

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It was the away team, however, who took the lead when a shot squeezed past Butterss at the near post. The Dragons had been in this position a couple of times already this season so there was no panicking from the home side. Instead, they lifted their intensity and began to assert more and more pressure on Marlin Coast.

The Dragons drew level when Ian Marsh, sniffing around like any good striker does, calmly side-footed home after the initial shot had been saved.

With Marlin Coast only needing a point to win the league they did not really push on in search of a winning goal. Spurred on by the goal and an increasingly vocal crowd the Dragons went in search of the goal that would keep them in the hunt for the title.

As the clock ticked on towards full time Nick Houghton was released through one on one. Houghton showed great composure to lob the ball over the keeper and on towards goal.

The ball bounced up and onto the crossbar and while the Dragons celebrated Marlin Coast hacked the ball clear of the goal and looked to counter attack. However the referee stopped play, consulted his linesman and awarded the goal much to the crowds' delight.

The Dragons were made to hang on for about five minutes of stoppage time which seemed like an eternity but hang on they did securing their eleventh win of the season and protecting their unbeaten home record.

The Paddy’s Bar Man of the Match went to Ian Marsh who again toiled tirelessly up top, got himself on the scoresheet and provided the final pass for the match winning goal.