Under 13 Girls – Sunshine Coast FC (15) v Western Pride FC (0)
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Under 15 Girls – Sunshine Coast FC (0) v Western Pride FC (3)
As soon as the game started, Pride were straight onto the counter attack leaving the Fire girls stunned as a cross from the wide area found the Pride striker which made Fire goalkeeper Maya struggle to contain the ball, the ball did cross the line but a foul was given against Pride which saved Fire from being 1-0 down within the first minute. The first ten minutes of the game saw Pride in full possession as Fire couldn’t find their way into the game. Shortly after Brooke Tait was in possession and attempted a shot on goal but it was off target and the ball made its way over the cross bar. From Pride’s goal kick, they kept possession all the way through the thirds, placed the ball through the Fire defence to their attackers which allowed them to have a clear shot on goal and placing the ball into the bottom corner of the goal. Pride lead 1-0.
Georgia Harle had numerous opportunities to find the net but couldn’t get a shot on target. Abbey Hutton attempted to even the score board but sent the ball over the cross bar. The half time whistle blew leaving Pride leading 1-0.
The second half was similar to the first, Pride were mostly in possession and found the net twice within 5 minutes. Pride lead 3-0. Fire goalkeeper Maya pulled off some great saves which helped the Fire girls a lot. It seemed that within the last few minutes of the game Fire found their feet and managed to hold possession well but it was too late as the final whistle blew leaving Pride with the 3-0 win.
Player of the Match: Georgia Harle
Under 18 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (0) v Redlands United FC (5)
A late season nor’easter again was an indicator of the warm conditions at the noon kick-off.
Due to a number of exceptional circumstances beyond the control of coaches and players, the much depleted Fire 18 Boys faced off against the previous winless Redlands United FC with only the bare eleven.
Fire started the brighter of the two teams and looked to move the ball quickly and won an early corner. Jake Nalder, in his first game on his return to the Fire, was unable to get any power in his header from the corner.
Oscar Bishop, also playing his first game of the season after he injured his quad in pre-season, was away on goal but his first touch was a little hard and the Redlands keeper was able to deny Bishop the opportunity to shoot.
In the 7th minute Ollie Blackmore drove forward from half way and beat several players before putting Kobe Fuller into the box with an incisive pass. Fuller was inexplicably denied a strong shout for a penalty by the referee as he was taken down inside the box by a Redlands defender.
Fire were enjoying the better of the earlier exchanges and were unlucky not to be a goal up at this stage. After 15 minutes Redlands were slowly working their way into the game as Fire lost a little of their intensity and their pass completion had dropped off.
At the 17 minute mark Fire lost the ball on halfway, Redlands caught Fire on the counter and Corey Hopkins scored the first for Redlands.
After 20 minutes the game was evenly poised and after the mid-half drinks break the Fire made numerous raids on the Redlands goal. First Kye Yamaoka-Chapman cut inside onto his right foot but his shot was saved, then Jez Lofthouse shot just over the bar and Bishop won a corner when the Redlands keeper made a low save to his right.
In the 40th minute Redlands found the net for the second time when an innocuous ball was played to the right of the Fire box and a Redlands attacker too easily turned a Fire defender and played a ball into the path of the advancing Luke Hendrix whose first time shot made it 2-0.
Two minutes later Fire presented Redlands with another chance and Hopkins gladly finished passed a number of Fire defenders as if they were statues to make it 3-0.
Just on half time Lofthouse made a break down the right and crossed to Fuller whose shot cleared the bar.
With the second half only minutes old, the day got decidedly worse for Fire when Bishop limped off having re-injured his quad and Fire had to play the second half with only 10 players.
Fire had to dig deep to remain competitive for the remainder of the match and fatigue was to become a factor as they had to chase the game and try to peg back a goal or two.
Liam Burns and Nalder worked hard in central defence, with Nalder strong in the tackle, intercepting potential danger with good anticipation and timing. One strong front on tackle in particular saw both Nalder and the Redlands attacker lifted up from the impact and the Redlands player was replaced shortly after.
In the 55th minute Fuller and Cameron Nairn combined well to set Fuller up for a shot from the left inside the box but his shot clattered off the post and away for a goal kick.
Redlands were having a good day and took the chances that were presented to them. It was in the 59th minute when a loose pass from Fire played carelessly back into traffic on half way put the stretched Fire defence under pressure. The ball went to a Redlands attacker who played the ball in behind for Stephen McDonald to win the race for the ball and run around the advancing Josh Wall as he tried to push McDonald wide and away from goal. McDonald was able to pass into an open goal to make it 4-0.
A minute later Wall was again called into action when he had to save at the feet of a Redlands attacker.
After the second half drinks break Fire were visibly tiring and they were struggling to retain possession as they played more directly in their desperation to score. Redlands were able to apply more pressure as they used fresh legs from their full complement of subs. The score could have been a couple more but Redlands missed their first chances of the game.
In the 70th minute Matt Alberts saved off the line at the near post for Fire when Wall was beaten and five minutes later Wall saved in a 1v1 when the attacker was through on goal.
Fire never gave up the fight and Lofthouse made several runs forward to find a way through the Redlands defence and Blackmore worked hard in the midfield in a strong display. Nalder was heroic in defence as he had been troubled by a knock from the earlier strong challenge but he played on knowing Fire had no subs to call on.
In a late effort Nairn spread the ball to Yamaoka-Chapman on the left whose cross found Lofthouse but his header went for a goal kick.
As if to prove the day belonged to Redlands, in the 90th minute Fire were unable to clear the ball from their box despite several attempts, and Hopkins blasted the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range to complete his hat trick and make the final score 5-0.
Player of the Match: Jake Nalder
