Under 12 Boys
Brisbane Strikers (3) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
Coming off a first round loss, Fire needed to turn it on from the first whistle to get the results they wanted. It was a confident start by Fire with the pressure put straight on the Strikers for the first 5 minutes. There were several shots on goal take by Fire in their attack but they were unable to convert any.
Seven minutes in and Strikers made a great counter attack and took a great shot on goal but Fire’s Ben Nassiep denied them the goal with a great save. Eleven minutes in and Jacob Reid received a yellow card for a careless tackle and a minute later Strikers’ Louis Prince scored their first goal.
Harrison Whitelaw made a nice run up the right wing and took a nice shot at goal but was saved by the keeper. Soon after, Flynn Faulkner had a nice run up through the middle only minutes later but Fire could not keep control of the ball.
Fire took a shot from the corner but yet again the keeper saved it. Strikers were able to create a lot of space and knocked the ball around well.
Strikers started strong for the 2nd half and were rewarded with a goal by Jaiden Parker in the 36th minute. Fire were unable to keep their shape and in the 42nd minute Parker kicked his 2nd goal for the Strikers
In the 43rd minute Jake Rocker puts in a great cross and Kyan Bryant belted it to the back of the net for Fire’s only goal of the game.
Player of the Match: Sam Klein
Under 13 Boys
Brisbane Strikers (4) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
After a disappointing Round 1 result the Fire 13s were out to prove they are still a quality team. The first 15 mins before the drinks break proved just that. With renewed verve the Fire boys dominated the opening exchange by having the greater share of possession and creating the better goal scoring opportunities. Unfortunately they just couldn’t find the back of the net and on 23 minutes the Strikers scored against the run of play. As the U12 2015 Premiers the Brisbane Strikers are a class outfit and will punish any defensive lapse. Unlike last week the Fire team weren’t about to concede again. Some crisp passing combinations between Matt Gaske and Alex Patterson found the Strikers defence stretched just outside the 18 yard box and Patterson once again found the back of the net with an accurately placed shot. Gaske had one of the highest assist rates in the 2015 season for the Fire 12s and once again he proved why he is so well suited to the #10 role. Fire were again looking confident and utilizing quick ball movement and accurate passing allowed Aaron Smith to find space down the right. With a rushing keeper, Smith deftly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back far corner of the goal. A very difficult skill to perfect, however beautifully executed by a very talented footballer. Fire continued to look good, however were unable to stop another goal from the Strikers before the half time break.
After the break a very even contest was disrupted by the inexperienced ‘man in the middle’. After a couple of comments from Jayden Emery, Fire were reduced to 10 men. In the hot sun, Fire were always going to find it difficult a man down, however to their credit they never gave up and all players increased their work load to cover for the missing player. Jacob Lombardo was back to his best constantly disrupting the Strikers attempts to break the Fire line. His anticipation and reading of play is second to none and he is always looking to take advantage of any attacking space that he can exploit. He was backed up by a solid defensive line that was much improved from last week. Liam MacMillan combined nicely with Aryon Ramos down the left on several occasions and the two are slowly becoming a fine attacking combination. Patrick Simpson and Matt Toye once again worked hard in the centre of the midfield and created some great passages of play.
Player of the Match: Alex Patterson. Alex led from the front as any good captain does. Not only did Alex create some fine attacking play, he also defended from the front as he constantly applied pressure to the Strikers backline. With the combination of hard work and excellent football intelligence, Alex is in for a big year with the Fire.
Under 14 Boys
Brisbane Strikers (2) v Sunshine Coast FC (3)
The opening minute saw Strikers work their way into the box. Fire’s Ewan Gordon appeared to make a clean tackle which was deemed a foul and resulted in a pen to Strikers which was duly slotted home for a 1-0 lead. In an entertaining 1st half, a second minute cross from Jackson Haynes found Harry Arnison for a shot that was pushed just wide of the goal. In only the 4th minute, a Gordon throw found Alistair Mcmillian, who put in a great cross which Fire were unable to capitalise on. In only the 6th min, Arnison came close from a well taken free kick awarded to Luke Varga after some good lead up work from Varga. The reward eventually came in the 12th minute from a well-executed goal when Sam Fleming made a fine pass to find Haynes. Haynes moved the ball quickly onto Beardsley who passed to a well-positioned Mcmillian, slotting home for a 1-1 score line.
In the 19th min, a well taken Varga corner was parried away by the Strikers keeper only to find the head of a teammate who, unfortunately for Strikers, placed the ball in the back of the net. Just when Fire appeared to be taking control of the match, Strikers player Rahmat Morandi chanced his arm with a long shot from about 35 metres out and to the right of the goal. Fire keeper Josh Croft could only stand and watch as the ball sailed over his head and into the back of the net to level the score. Fire continued to dominate, Beardsley hitting the crossbar in the28th minute. However, with 33 minutes up on the clock, a pass from the Strikers keeper to his centre back was pinched by an aware, quick thinking Arnison for what turned out to be the match winning goal going into half time.
Although no goals were scored in the 2nd half, the Fire boys worked tirelessly in the tiring conditions. The mid field worked hard and Fire’s defensive line proved to be solid yet again. Fire came close to scoring in the 60th minute only to be denied by an off-side call. Strikers also came close to scoring when keeper Croft parried the ball down from a free kick, resulting in a goal kick. Fire ground out the remainder of the match for a well-deserved victory.
Player of the Match: Harry Arnison. As we see on a consistent basis, Arnison’s work rate, distribution, tackling and pressing (resulting in the decisive match winning goal), were once again of a very high standard in what was overall a very pleasing team effort.
Under 15 Boys
Brisbane Strikers (4) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
An extremely hot day at Perry Park saw Sunshine Coast Fire go down 4-2 in a hard fought match against a good Brisbane Strikers outfit.
All the early play was with the Strikers as Fire struggled to get a foothold on the game. The Brisbane side looked hungrier, and were first to the ball on too many occasions, and but for some good keeping from Eligh Williams could have scored an early goal.
In the 11th minute the pressure told, and Strikers took a 1-0 lead as the wide players took advantage of space in front of them and found the target from inside the 18 yard box. A quick reply came from Fire as Jordan Meredith was found out wide, and he whipped in a great cross that was headed with power into the top corner by Tom Whittaker from 12 yards.
The Strikers took the lead back in the 19th minute as they were allowed to dribble past a number of defenders before striking a cracking shot in off the crossbar. A set piece saw Fire go close to equalizing, however for the most part the Strikers continued to dominate the match and we were fortunate to go into the break just 2-1 down.
The second half saw Fire come out strongly and start to win some ball through the middle. The extra energy in the side was noticeable, and as a result we began to get on top of our opponents. A nice early combination between Kaelan Debbage and Tom Whittaker was put just wide, while a steady stream of half chances started to test the Strikers defence.
In the 8th minute of the second half the equaliser came with Debbage and Whittaker once again combining well and Kaelan powered a left foot shot past the keeper. Fire had a great chance to hit the lead when a free kick inside the box was wasted, before an in-swinging corner was headed just wide by Harry Arnison.
The back four and midfield three all had very good second halves and we looked the more likely to score the winner until a late mix up saw Eligh Williams’ clearance ricochet off the Strikers attacker and loop into the net.
Heads dropped a little after the goal, and the Strikers took advantage to score a fourth.
Player of the Match: Keegan New
Under 16 Boys
Brisbane Strikers (4) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
Brisbane Strikers pressing hard on Fire’s half in the opening minutes. On seven minutes, a cross from Taj Suffolk was met by Aaron Robertson, who put it over the bar. Both teams played an even game, exchanging attacking plays.
Strikers made a promising attack from the right-hand side on 11 minutes, crossing the ball in but was easily recovered by Fire. In the following minutes, both teams played a very physical game, trying to create opportunities with neither team appearing to have the upper-hand.
Tom Croft pressed though in the 28th minute and passed to Terone Wattegedara, who slotted it past the keeper for the opening goal. In the 37th minute, Fire lost the ball in their half from a throw-in, which was crossed by Strikers for an equaliser right before half-time.
Fire started the second half well, gaining control of the ball and keeping it until a counter from Strikers in the 47th minute. Strikers ran the ball down the right-hand side and crossed the ball into the back of Fire’s net.
Both teams continued their fast pace, creating numerous denied scoring chances. Wattegedara shot a cross to Kurtis Modlin, who drove the ball past the keeper to again equalise the score in the 55th minute. Five minutes later, Strikers gained the lead from a corner which was headed into the net.
Strikers made the closing goal with a quick counter from a Fire free kick, making a break down the field and slotting the ball past the keeper with just three minutes left of the game.
Player of the Match: Tom Croft
