THE FNQ Bulls earned bragging rights over Queensland State League rivals the North Queensland Razorbacks yesterday with an emphatic 3-1 victory in  
Townsville.

While the Bulls are out of finals contention their win has dented the top-four ambitions of the Razorbacks, who sit fifth on the ladder with two rounds remaining.

• Pictures: FNQ Bulls

Bulls coach Peter Tokesi, who enjoys a close relationship with Razorbacks mentor Mick Tonner, said his players were not in the mood to help out their occasional allies.

"It was a good win but a little bitter sweet because they’ve helped us out a lot with information about opponents throughout the year," he said.

"But as much as I would like them to make the four because we won’t I wasn’t going to give it to them and neither were the
players.

"When you beat a side like Townsville 3-1 a lot of players have to play well and that’s what happened for us."

Both teams fluffed chances in the opening exchanges with the Bulls especially fortunate not to trail by one or two goals.

But, as they have not always done this season, the Bulls capitalised on their good luck when striker George Koroma won a goal-mouth scramble to score after 30 minutes.

The Bulls went into the break leading 1-0 and had goalkeeper Daniel Wilesmith to thank for preserving that advantage when play resumed in the second half.

Every time the Razorbacks worked themselves behind the Bulls defence Wilesmith was not afraid to leave his line and snuff out the looming threat.

His toil was rewarded the best way possible when David Ruiz headed home a Koroma cross in the 58th minute.

Leading 2-0 the Bulls had far from sealed the game but Tokesi was made to feel more comfortable when Ruiz slotted his second on 81 minutes.

Chris Goldsworthy found the net for the Razorbacks three minutes before fulltime but it would prove to be a consolation
goal.

NQ Razorbacks 1 (Chris Goldsworthy 87’) — FNQ Bulls 3 (George Koroma 30’, David Ruiz 58’, 81’).

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