Under 12 Boys – Western Pride FC (7) v Sunshine Coast FC (3)
Round 24 saw Fire travel down to Ipswich for the second time this season and the campaigns third meeting between the teams; Pride coming out on top on each previous occasion.
Recent matches have hinted at an improvement in form for the visitors and last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Strikers did not reflect Fire’s dominance, giving rise to an optimism that suggested it could be third time lucky against a mid-table Pride team.
Western Pride began the game under a cobalt blue winter sky and in perfect match conditions created the game’s first opportunity after only two minutes, a header, following a cross from Pride’s right hand flank which drifted wide of the Fire upright.
Fire quickly asserted themselves into the game and, after some neat build up play involving Riley Moore and Dré Ngaha, Jett Wouters sent an effort over the Pride crossbar. Pride attacked again and despite some strong defence from Herbie Allsopp and Tanner Mathers, Pride still managed to squeeze in a shot that was just too high.
Pride continued to look the more dangerous and Fire keeper Alec Lavender needed to be alert as he raced off his line to smother at the feet of the on rushing Pride striker in the fifth minute. The half progressed with few chances created by either team, Fire trying to play football in the face of some robust and heavy challenges. After another physical challenge Fire were awarded a free kick which Ngaha floated into the Pride area, Wouters rising highest but his flicked header was saved by the Pride keeper. Fire again, playing the better football had Ryan Tappouras and Lachie Noyes battling in midfield to keep Fire’s momentum, and after 17 minutes Tappouras opening the scoring lashing the ball into the left hand corner of the Pride goal.
From the kick off Pride committed another illegal challenge and the referee was forced to speak with the offender however resisted showing a yellow card. After 20 minutes Allsopp showed great skill and vision to deceive a number of Pride players before sending a through ball to Wouters from which Pride were forced to concede a corner. With Pride unable to clear the danger Tappouras showed a cool head to rifle home a low shot for his second of the game and give Fire a deserved 0 -2 lead after 22 minutes.
Fire were beginning to play with a real confidence, Luke Vancam controlling the ball well on his chest before starting another Fire move that led to Mark Shaw being put through on goal, only for the Pride keeper to save. On 26 minutes Mathers sent a scorching drive a whisker over the Pride bar as Fire pushed hard for a third.
As close to extending their lead as Fire were, Pride reduced the deficit on their next foray forward, despite some desperate defending from Allsopp, even when lying on the floor, Fire could not prevent Pride from smashing home their first of the match from six yards on 27 minutes. Before they could regroup Pride almost snatched an equaliser but after being put through on the Fire goal Lavender proved equal to the task and saved well.
Good play from Hayden White down the Fire right hand side in combination with Shaw forced another Fire corner which saw a Ngaha shot blocked as the referee signalled half time, Fire taking a hard fought, but deserved 1-2 lead in to the break.
Fire restarted the game on the front foot, Tappouras in particular spraying balls out wide the right for White to cross in the Pride box, but it was the home side that drew first blood in the second stanza, a long ball sending a Pride striker clear to confidently stroke home in the 32minute to level the game.
Fire came straight back with Ngaha having a shot saved and both Wouters and Moore were unable to get the ball to sit up from a number of half chances as the ball ricocheted dangerously around the Pride area. Pride continued their strategy to bring a more physical approach to the game, a Fire free kick from Ngaha was just too high for Wouters to connect with.
Pride were having the majority of the ball now but it was Moore who almost put Fire back in front after he was put clear, the Pride keeper denied him with a smart save as Fire had to settle for a corner.
After 42 minutes Pride took the lead, when a shot from the edge of the Fire penalty area found the net, Pride also coming close again a minute later when another shot flashed wide.
Familiar struggles began to re-emerge in Fire’s play, as both confidence and shape were began to look a little ragged, another Pride shot from 18 yards beating Lavender at his near post to make the score 4-2 on 47 minutes.
Mathers countered for Fire and he was unlucky to see his shot saved after a combative run through the middle of the park, however, as play moved back into the Fire half, Pride effectively sealed the win when they drilled a low shot under Lavender to make it 5-2 in the 52nd minute.
Pride clearly sensed a deluge of goals was on the cards and pushed hard for sixth, Lavender again finding himself in the thick of things, this time coming out bravely to block at a Pride players feet. From the resulting corner Jeremy Byasse cleared off the line but was unable to stop Pride firing in another from the ensuing melee.
After making a tackle in his defensive third Allsopp went on a solo run though the Pride midfield but unfortunately could only win his side a throw in, Mathers sent another effort wide in the 55th minute as Fire tried to bring respectability to the score line. After Beppe Rocco intercepted a Pride clearance with his head, Moore was onto the loose ball and able to knock home a third for Fire in the 57th minute. Fire continued to press and search for another goal, but alas, it was not to come and with the deflated visitors allowing Pride time and space on the edge of the Fire area, the home team stroked home their seventh of the game in the dying seconds to give the final score a comprehensive look.
Player of the Match: Ryan Tappouras
Under 13 Boys – Western Pride FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (13)
Round 24 saw Sunshine Coast FC travel to Briggs Road Sporting Complex. The last two meetings saw Sunshine Coast FC confident in their wins.
Once again Sunshine Coast FC entered the pitch with confidence and hunger, they immediately placed pressure on Western Pride’s defence, moving the ball and attacking the goals. Kyan Bryant ran the ball up the left wing to take the ball up to score the first goal of the match on the 1st minute. Fire 1-0
Western Pride FC quickly settled and stepped up their defence in an attempt to nullify the Sunshine Coast FC attack. A free kick set the wheels in motion for Sunshine Coast FC’s second goal. Samuel Klein passed the ball to Bryant on the left, then crossed into the centre to Matthew Becker who took a strike on goal. A deflection by the Western Pride keeper was followed in by Becker on the 19th minute. Fire 2-0
This was closely followed with another goal when Maxx Demerutis passed the ball out to Bryant on the left resulting in a goal on the 23rd minute. Fire 3-0
Sunshine Coast FC saw out the first half with a 4-0 lead after a passing combination between Demerutis and Jake Rocker saw Demerutis score on the 34th minute. Fire 4-0
The second half saw Sunshine Coast FC’s defensive combination of Matthias Schlotterbach, Harrison Whitelaw, Jack Connors, Jacob Reid and Jack Miller all guided by keeper Ben Nassiep keep the Western Pride FC attempts to score at bay.
Bryant continued his goal scoring streak as he ran the ball from the back of the pitch to score his hat-trick on the 36th minute. Fire 5-0
Sunshine Coast FC’s attack stepped up with a ball from Rocker through to Becker for a goal on the 41st minute. Fire 6-0
This was then backed up two minutes later when Rocker, Flynn Faulkner and Dimtri Pritchard moved the ball between themselves with Pritchard scoring on the 43rd minute. Fire 7-0
Sunshine Coast FC didn’t stop there with goals coming on the 45th minute (Rocker), 48th minute (Becker), 50th minute (Klein), 52nd minute (Lucas Kljajcin), 60th minute (Klein) and the 68th minute (Bryant) to see a confident with of 13-0 to Fire.
Player of the Match: Kyan Bryant
Under 13 Girls – Sunshine Coast FC (3) v University of Queensland FC (0)
With this being the fourth last round of the season it was important for both teams to put in a good performance. In the first round coming together of the teams UQ were victorious 3-1 and the Fire girls were determined to change that result this weekend.
The weather at the coast has been extremely warm and the pitch was in good condition but dry and bouncy. The wind was quite strong and blowing directly down the field.
The first half started well for both teams but the wind was certainly going to make a difference. UQ were on the attack for the majority of the half and the Fire backline and the keeper were kept extremely busy. An amazing corner from a UQ player hit the crossbar and a number of other shots were blocked by defenders Vicky Holowko, Jenna Wolski, Emily Ferroussat and Macey Edward. As usual, Dimity Bucciarelli was as solid as a rock and made some very good saves when needed. The end of the first half couldn’t come fast enough and all were extremely pleased to head into the half time break at 0-0.
The coaching team reminded the Fire girls that they had weathered the storm and the second half would be different with the wind behind them. The girls started the second half extremely well and on the 5th minute of the second half Maddy Sansby provided striker Tamika Banks with a pin point through ball. Tamika collected the ball and struck a low and hard shot back past the keeper into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The goal was the tonic the girls need and at the 11th minute into the second half Drew Aiken pressed from the midfield and was fouled. Drew lined up the free kick from about 25 yards out and struck her shot into the top right corner of the goal.
With 10 minutes play, Maddy Sansby once again supplied the perfect ball for attacker Tamika Banks to run onto. Unfortunately, the UQ keeper mistimed her run at the ball and fouled Tamika Banks in the box. The referee had no choice other than to issue a penalty. Tamika picked herself up and struck the penalty into the top right corner of the goal.
The girls deserved the 3-0 win and all can and should be very proud of the way they played.
Under 15 Girls – Sunshine Coast FC (5) v University of Queensland FC (1)
2’ CHANCE FOR FIRE – A well-placed corner from Jordyn Weckert but the opportunity to score was missed.
8’ GOAL FOR FIRE – A series of short set passes allowed Jackie Doyle to be in position and score the first goal of the game for Sunshine Coast Fire.
11’ GOAL FOR UQ – UQ had the opportunity to take advantage of a gap in our defence and drawing our goalkeeper out wide to score nicely in the left corner of the goal. Score 1-1.
12’ CHANCE FOR UQ – Meg Mason’s defence stopped what was looking like a set up for UQ’s second goal clearing the ball high and wide for Sunshine Coast midfield to run on.
14’ CHANCE FOR FIRE – Emily Roach switched play with a long pass cross the field to find Jordyn Weckert who passed into Jackie Doyle who took a head shot just missing.
17’ GOAL FOR FIRE – Kijah Stephenson took possession in midfield made ground and scored our second goal of the game. Score 2-1.
21’ GOAL FOR FIRE – With the play caught up just outside the goal box Jordyn Weckert took an opportunity to strike with the rebound landing at Jackie Doyle’s feet who didn’t hesitate to put it away into the left corner of the goal. Score 3-1.
32’ CHANCE FOR FIRE – Emily Roach’s long cross gave Jackie Doyle an opportunity to shoot for goal narrowly missing.
34’ CHANCE FOR UQ – Kaitlyn Ryan and Destiny Guteridge defended the back line well keeping UQ clear of any opportunities to shoot at goal.
41’ CHANCE FOR FIRE – A missed opportunity to score from a penalty shot early in the second half, Emily Roach aiming for the left corner but blocked by the UQ goal keeper.
49’ CHANCE FOR FIRE – Audrey Upston took shot at goal with the ball going high.
56’ CHANCE FOR UQ – Murphy Sheaf saved three consecutive attempts at goal from UQ.
58’ GOAL FOR FIRE – Jordyn Weckert with a left foot cross found Jackie Doyle who headed the fourth goal for Sunshine Coast score 4-1.
61’ CHANCE FOR FIRE – Kijah Stephenson made ground in the midfield passing to Bree Wallace who took a shot at goal saved by the UQ goal keeper.
66’ GOAL FOR FIRE – Jordyn Weckert scored Fire’s fifth goal after receiving a pass from Kijah Stephenson.
