The Verri Industries Douglas United Dragons now have to rely on other teams if they are to win the Far North Queensland Premier League after drawing 2-2 with Leichardt on Saturday night.

The result means the Dragons must beat table topping Marlin Coast on Saturday night then hope that Coast slip up again the following week if the Dragons are to lift the title.

Saturday’s match was played in perfect conditions and the Dragons used these to good affect in the first half, dominating possession with both fullbacks having huge amounts of possession.

Particularly threatening was the play between Ollie Moffat and Matt Hill down the Dragons' right with a number of crosses being delivered into the box, albeit a little close to the Leichardt keeper.

Unfortunately the Dragons were not able to carve out any clear-cut chances and were made to pay in the 9th minute when, from a very soft free kick, the ball was scrambled into the back of the net to give Leichardt the lead.

The Dragons responded well continuing to dominate possession, again probing down both flanks. The reward came in the 27th minute when Matt Hill’s deep cross found Matty Smith who stooped to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net. It was just reward for the Dragons who had bossed the possession for the majority of the half and continued to do so after drawing level.

The Dragons took the lead minutes into the second half when Matty Smith again found space from a corner and headed in his second of the match.

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From this point on Leichardt, with title aspirations of their own, pushed forward in search of an equalising goal. An injury to centre half Valentine Akem forced the Dragons into a reshuffle and as a result never looked quite as comfortable with possession with Leichardt also beginning to look dangerous.

The Leichardt attacks were nearly constant as the game wore on as the Dragons were unable to hold onto the ball for long periods of play as they had in the first half.

Unfortunately it was only a matter of time before they were made to pay for trying to sit on their one goal lead. The ball was given away down the Dragons' right and with players out of position the left winger had time to pick his pass and the Leichardt player made no mistake to draw them level on 84 minutes.

And it was nearly disastrous for the Dragons had keeper Gary Fitzgerald not been out smartly to tackle at the feet of a Leichardt player while everyone watched on helplessly as the rebound was hit just wide of the post.

The Dragons had a couple of counter attacks, which nearly amounted to something, but the final element was slightly awry. However the Dragons' players were left dumbfounded as the game neared fulltime - a final counter attack saw the Dragons with more attackers than defenders only for the referee to blow the final whistle.

The Paddy’s Bar Man of the Match went to Matty Smith for his two goal haul which will hopefully see him finding some scoring form at the pointy end of the season.

Next up is Saturdays must win clash against leaders Marlin Coast in potentially the last game at Cassowary Park for the season. Kick off is at 7pm so get yourselves out to the ground and cheer on the boys and make sure they head into the finals in a top two spot at the very least.