A KADO Aoci hat trick helped the Red Devils to their fourth win in a row with a 5-1 victory over the Sunshine Coast in Round 25 of the National Premier League competition.
Sunshine Coast had made the trip down to the Redlands for the Saturday evening game against the Red Devils.
Shuto Kuboyama got the Red Devils off to a great start, scoring in the second minute of play.
Godfrey Debele made a great run down the right, beating his defender and crossing into the box for Kuboyama to calmly slot home the opener. From that moment Redlands were in full control of the game.
Aoci scored the first of his three goals in the 20th minute after Kuboyama switched the play to Rob Kramer down the right who found Aoci in the box who neatly flicked the ball up around his defender and drove it into the corner of the net giving Cameron Boldly in goal no chance.
The teams went into the break with Redlands leading two goals to nil. The score line flattered the visitors, with Redlands keeper Jack Richards largely untroubled for much of the first half.
Sunshine Coast came out for the second half determined to try and get something out of the game and continually pushed towards goal, but the Redlands' defense held firm.
In the 50th minute the Red Devils picked up their third goal when Redlands' captain David Salin stepped in to drive the ball into the top of the net.
Despite the score Sunshine Coast never gave up and continued to put pressure on the hosts. Aoci added his second and Redlands' fourth in the 68th minute when he rose above the pack and headed home a fine goal.
The visitors persistence paid off when in the 79th minute Alex Newcombe shot from outside the 18 yard box into the top corner of the net, giving Richards no chance in goal.
Aoci scored his third right before full time when he took the ball down the left, beat three defenders and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Next Saturday the Red Devils take the trip to AJ Kelly Park at Kippa Ring to tackle competition leaders Peninsula Power at 5pm.
It will be a tough task for the Redlands with the competition leaders at home and with their eye firmly on the competition title.
