In what was their last home game of the season, the Redbacks finished the fixture strongly over the Bluebells, with three second-half goals at Thornton Park.

Callum Baxter netted from a corner shortly after the break before striker Callum Martin and Nathan McAllister put the result beyond doubt for Thornton.

Left midfielder Jesse Smith had earlier opened the account midway through the first half.

Redbacks coach Darrel McAllister said it was an impressive display from his side, which went away from the general trend of the season.

“It was a good result and we played well,” he said.

“This year we have been up and down with results – we have won games we should have lost and lost games we should have won.

“We have won games with only one chance and then ­defended well, other times we have three or four scored against us, but create seven or eight chances ourselves for no result.

“On Sunday I was happy with the entire performance and score line.”

The Redbacks now hit the road for their final three fixtures, starting with fourth-placed Kahibah on Wednesday night.

This will be followed by ­second-placed Lakes on the weekend and fifth-placed Belmont Swansea in the last ­regular round.

Wins across the board could see the Redbacks sneak into the play-offs but either way it ­provides McAllister’s troops with a tough test at the back end of the season.

“They are three good games and good fixtures to finish with,” he said. 

“Mathematically we can win all three and finish equal with Kahibah, which would see a top four spot go down to goal ­difference.”

Thornton have beaten promotion bound Valentine and Wallsend throughout the year. 

In the Women’s Premier League on Sunday the Redbacks accounted for the Red Devils 5-3 at Wallsend Oval.