State Youth Under-19 Challenge
Sunshine Coast Fire v Young Razorbacks
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Perry Park, Albion
After an excellent season which saw the club claim the Youth Championship, the Sunshine Coast Fire’s 2010 campaign has come to a close with a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Young Razorbacks in the State Challenge.
The Razorbacks got off to a flyer and mounted immediate scoreboard pressure, netting four times in the first half. Goals either side of half-time to Cohen Bell and Nick Roth kept the scoreline respectable for the Fire, who did much of their best work late in the game.
A number of the Razorbacks senior squad made the trip to Perry Park to bolster the Young Razorbacks, who comfortably won the Northern Division of the QSL to qualify for the State Challenge.
After pouring all their effort into last weekend’s outstanding Grand Final triumph, the Fire struggled to back up that performance against the bigger bodies of North Queensland.
The match had barely kicked off when North Queensland went ahead. The referee called for an indirect free-kick on 2 minutes after Jack Tennant was ruled to have picked up a back-pass.
Six men lined up in a wall for the Fire, but Jacob Crowley hit a low, powerful drive into the bottom corner to give the Razorbacks the lead.
The Fire’s defence was left flat footed minutes later, when Crowley moved in on goal one-on-one, but Tennant made a strong block to deny a second goal. Soon after, Tennant made another quality save one-on-one to deny the Razorbacks, who were well on top in the midfield, utilising direct play.
After 20 minutes of play, the Sunshine Coast were yet to manufacture a shot on target, as the match was played largely on the Razorbacks terms. But in one of the Fire’s first genuine attacks on goal, they levelled the scores at 1-1.
Nick Roth won possession and took the Razorbacks defence on, drawing a man before slipping a pass to Cohen Bell. Bell shot with the outside of his right boot and beat NQ keeper Ryan Chellingworth at his near post with a classy finish.
With parity restored, the Sunshine Coast would have been hoping to find some consistency and hold possession, but North Queensland had other ideas. Almost immediately following the Fire’s goal, a missed tackle in defence was pounced on by Reaghan Cruz, who finished well from close in for a 2-1 Razorbacks lead.
Minutes later, it was Crowley again doing the damage for North Queensland, after a strong solo run down the left flank was finished with a well placed shot inside the far post.
Shocked to be 3-1 down, the Fire began to warm to the contest and get into attacking positions. Kaine Frew connected well with a free-kick that caught a heavy deflection and fell for Luke Lewis, who forced a save out of the keeper on 32 minutes.
James Verdin swung in a corner on 36 minutes that was cleared by the Razorbacks toward Crowley on the right wing. With a man to beat, he rode a challenge before moving into the penalty area, rounding Tennant and slotting home for a 4-1 lead.
With a three goal deficit, the Fire headed into the break with a mountain to climb, and came out after the interval with increased urgency.
Quick ball movement down the right flank released Frew, who hit an accurate cross to Bell that was volleyed just over the crossbar.
However, as was the case in the first half, the Fire were once again punished on the break as Reaghan Cruz moved down the left and scored with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper, to make scores 5-1.
With the match all but gone, Lewis almost netted a consolation after a scramble in the box, but lifted a shot over the bar. Soon after, a strong run down the middle from Roth almost yielded a goal, but the last defender poked the ball to safety.
With ten minutes to play, Frew went close from the edge of the area with a left-footed drive, and a long ball from Rhys Roberts caused trouble for Chellingworth as it almost dropped under the bar.
As full-time approached, Roth held the ball well as he dribbled into the penalty area, before copping a nudge and going to ground. The referee pointed to the spot and Roth converted, beating the keeper easily to add respectability to the scoreline, which finished 5-2.
Although the season ended on a dull note, the Sunshine Coast Fire can hold their heads high at the end of an excellent campaign. With new clubs entering the competition next season, the Fire will have all the more motivation to hang onto their championship crown.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 2 (Bell, Frew)
Young Razorbacks – 5 (Crowley, 3, Cruz, 2)
