Under 12 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (2) v Moreton Bay United FC (1)
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Under 13 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (0) v Moreton Bay United FC (4)
The game started at a frantic pace. Within the first five minutes Fire had three opportunities on goal. Two identical moves involved some great midfield combinations that found Jake Debbage behind the defense.
The first effort was well saved by the Moreton Bay keeper and the second saw Debbage’s cross drift across the six yard box without a Fire player managing to get on the end of it. Aaron Smith was involved in the third. Smith is always dangerous around the 18 yard box with the ball played to his feet. After an elusive turn Smith found himself with enough space to shoot, however the ball drifted just wide of the post.
Moreton Bay were always in the game and had several good opportunities to score. Connor Evans showed his defensive qualities by clearing a certain goal off the line. Another shot rebounded off the post and Hugh Williams pulled off an outstanding save from a Moreton Bay volley that saw him dive quickly to his right. With only a few minutes left in the half Fire conceded from a corner. The following Moreton attack found Fire going to the break 2-0 down as another goal was scored off a cross.
After the half time break the game could have gone either way. Moreton created a few more chances as did Fire. Aryon Ramos played a sublime pass to Alex Patterson who allowed the ball to roll across his body which helped him find space just inside the box. Patterson hit the ball well with his left however his effort went just over the bar. Alex again found himself with space in the box after a great passing exchange with Matt Gaske. This time he was denied by a beautiful one handed save by the Moreton Bay keeper. A goal here would have certainly changed the game.
A comeback just wasn’t to be. A long shot form the Moreton Bay winger sailed over Williams’ head to make it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go. A dubious free kick in the final minutes saw Fire go down 4-0 after a well struck free kick was placed in the corner. A tough day for Fire, however some nice periods of play could have changed the game had they taken their opportunities.
Player of the Match: Patrick Simpson. Patrick worked hard for the full 70 mins and was always trying to get on the ball to create opportunities.
Under 13 Girls – Eastern Suburbs FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (5)
The Fire girls immediately proved to Easts that they were ready for another win this weekend. For the first 5 minutes Fire were in control of possession and were shutting Easts out of the game. In the 8th minute, Emily Roach intercepted the ball cleanly from Easts defender and took it upon herself to dribble to the edge of the box and take her chances by placing the ball around the keeper, finding the bottom corner of the net putting Fire with a 1-0 lead. Just a minute after Audrey Upston attempted a shot on goal but was denied by the post. Fire continued to cut Easts possession and forcing the ball up into the attacking third. Courtney Brunner found the ball at her feet on the far left of the field, she attempted to cross the ball but she managed to chip the ball over the keepers head and into the goal. Fire winning 2-0 at this point. In the 16th minute, Fire lost possession and left space in the central midfield area allowing Easts to switch the ball to the left winger allowing them an easy shot on target which saw them with a comeback goal. Fire 2 Easts 1.
After the half time break, Fire once again started the second half strong and were constantly attacking Easts defence. In the 33rd minute, a through ball from Sommer Jordan to Jordyn Weckert allowed Jordyn time and space to run with the ball towards the goal, Jordyn was denied by the goalkeeper on her first attempt but safely put the ball away on the rebound. Fire leading 3-1. Shortly after a passing combination from the Fire girls on the right side of the field provided Jordyn with another chance which she put away with power into the left bottom corner of the goal. Fire now 4-1 up. Fire were determined to hammer Easts for the rest of the game, Emily Roach held possession extremely well in and throughout the midfield, using clever combinational play with close by players and driving the ball forwards into the attacking areas. Fire were pushing for another goal by the 45th minute. Jordyn Weckert received the ball from Emily Roach and tried her luck with a long range shot, she controlled it well which payed off as she found the net yet again.
Fire held off Easts for the rest of the game and at the final whistle Fire were extremely happy with a 5-1 win.
Player of the Match: Emily Roach
Under 14 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (3) v Moreton Bay United FC (1)
Fire started well, with slightly more possession than Moreton Bay and better field position. Nine minutes in Fire were rewarded. Following a good passage of play down the right wing involving, Ezekiel Hawkins, Sam Fleming, Brodie Boyce and Jack Beardsley ended up with the ball on the edge of the box beat a defender and slotted home a very sharp shot between the keeper and the near post.
This lifted Fire who probably didn’t expect to be the first scorers after the previous week’s tough game. Fire then dominated field position with some strong moves down the left from Luke Varga and strong midfield play; Fire were unlucky not to score on a few more occasions.
Fire were rewarded again in the 14th minute. This time from the midfield a perfectly weighted short ball through for Beardsley who slipped past a defender with just the keeper to beat, skimmed the keeper with an open goal, but the keeper took a late lunge at Beardsley’s feet, bringing him down for a clear penalty which was slotted in confidently by Beardsley.
Moreton Bay got the break they needed soon after. A strong counter attack from Moreton Bay after fire lost possession deep inside the Moreton bay half resulted in the tall strong McGrath running on to a through ball with just the Fire keeper to beat, and slotted it home.
Moreton Bay with the wind behind them came back very strong in the 2nd half which was more evenly contested than the first half. Both teams had scoring opportunities with Fire probably having a few more. The strong defence of Hawkins and Boyce, against physically larger opponents gave Fire the edge over Moreton Bay. Rory Stenhouse, Corey Gibbs and Trent Watkin were also strong in defence.
Alistair McMillan threatened down the wing on a number of occasions. Luke Poulton was strong in midfield. Josh Croft in goal made a few critical saves and created a few nervous moments with the ball at his feet teasing the advancing strikers. A very good win against the previously undefeated, top of the table Moreton Bay.
Player of the Match: Jack Beardsley
Under 15 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (0) v Moreton Bay United FC (4)
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Under 15 Girls – Eastern Suburbs FC (3) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
Fire made a strong start to the first half with Fire’s midfielders making some great passes down the sides and but couldn’t quite execute.
In the 20th minute, Abbey Hutton made a run down the left side and set up Annie Campbell to take a shot from the corner just out of the 6 yard box for the first goal.
In the 21st minute, Eastern Suburbs took back control with a great shot in the 18 yard from Morgan Brasdon going over Izzy Woods over her head levelling the score ending the first half evenly matched.
Some changes were made on the field with minor injuries leaving the Fire girls tired and exhausted.
Fire maintained ball possession for the majority of the second half with some great defence in their backline but Eastern Suburbs managed to lock in another two goals to finalise the score at 3-1.
Player of the Match: Annie Campbell
Under 16 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (3) v Moreton Bay United FC (2)
Sunshine Coast FC needed a win to climb back up the ladder and not be left behind. Kurtis Modlin made a great run down the right wing and played the ball on to Terone Wattegedara whose shot was blocked by the keeper.
Taj Suffolk beat two players and dribbled through the centre of the field and had a great shot on goal the rebound from the keeper is pounced on by Wattegedara who tapped the ball into the net to open the score at 13 minutes.
Moreton Bay’s Phillips intercepts the ball as Fire make a mistake while trying to play out of their back line, shoots hard past the keeper to even the score on 15 minutes.
Moreton Bay made a break down the left and crossed into the area box and Reese shoots hard down low into the corner of the net. Wattegedara tackled the Moreton Bay centre back to win the ball and shoot down low and scores to put Fire level at half time.
A throw in given to Wattegedara, who crosses a great ball into the box and Suffolk meets it perfectly to score the third and winning goal.
The ref awards a free kick that is taken by Aaron Robertson. The ball bent over and around the wall but was denied by the post.
Both teams played a high tempo pressing game and Fire managed to hold off Moreton Bay’s final series of attacks to win at home.
Player of the Match: Jarred Schultz
Under 18 Boys – Brisbane Strikers FC (3) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
The Fire 18 Boys, against the stronger Brisbane Strikers, were looking for a better showing today than their effort of last week against Redlands.
Fire started brightly and in the 5th minute looked dangerous when Liam Burns at left back played a ball to Ollie Blackmore in the midfield, Blackmore in turn spread it wide to Abe Reeves on the right who used his pace to get around the Strikers defender, but his cross was deflected for a corner.
Strikers were moving the ball quickly and were looking to close Fire down early when not in possession. There was a high intensity about the early midfield tussles as each team was looking to get on top.
Strikers were building pressure on Fire and Josh Wall had to sweep behind his defence a number of times. In the 13th minute a Strikers attacker drove in behind the defence on the left and Fire had a scare as the ball went across the Fire goalmouth on the goal line before going out for a goal kick at the far post.
In the 18th minute Jake Nalder was solid in central defence for Fire and scrambled a ball away for a corner. Nalder was again required to block a shot on the goal line and somehow an attacker put it out for a goal kick.
Strikers had more penetration into the Fire penalty box as they attacked in numbers and Fire in turn were struggling to create anything in their own attacking third. Strikers were effectively using a second defender well to deny Fire possession from the contests for the ball. Blackmore and Lofthouse were working hard in midfield along with the Fire defensive back four of Bailey Waern, James Beckman, Nalder and Burns.
Fire had another scare in the 25th minute when a Strikers attacker put a free header over the bar from a corner and a minute later a Fire defender was dispossessed bringing the ball up-field but the attacker’s shot curved away from the far post for a goal kick.
Fire’s first real chance came in the 28th minute when Kobe Fuller was looking for a way past a number of Strikers defenders at the top of the box and instead spread the ball wide to Reeves on the right who crossed the ball to Matt Alberts in front of gaol, but the Strikers defence was able clear the danger.
In the 32nd minute Wall came off his line to save a certain goal as a Strikers attacker was through on goal. In the 37th minute Fire gave away a free kick at the top of the box. Ethan Smith for Strikers placed the ball too easily to the side of the defensive wall to score. It was disappointing as Fire had appeared to whether the storm only to be down 1-0.
Fire were refocused at the start of the second half and played some good football at times.
In the 47th minute Waern from defence found Fuller in behind the Strikers’ defence whose cross found Lofthouse then to Terone Wattegedara and back to Lofthouse whose shot went narrowly wide.
Mitch Bridge came on in the second half into the midfield which allowed Blackmore and Lofthouse to get forward more.
In the 49th minute Blackmore found Wattegedara who in turn found Fuller as they built pressure on the Strikers goal and were looking dangerous. Fire were enjoying their best period of the game and were able to put together a number of passes going forward.
Fuller had his best opportunity to score in the 53rd minute when he slipped in behind the Strikers’ defence just over half way and at pace could have attempted to chip the keeper who was well off his line but carried on into the box only to drill his shot into the side netting just outside the near post.
A minute later Nalder had to make a solid last man tackle deep in Fire’s box.
Despite Fire looking dangerous it was Strikers who scored next in the 59th minute when Zachary Maltby was allowed too much space and turned and dribbled between two Fire defenders into the box and placed the ball passed the advancing Wall to make it 2-0.
Fire were deflated by the second goal and took a while to settle back into the game. In the 69th minute Taj Suffolk coming forward from defence on the right controlled a difficult ball on his chest and headed to Lofthouse who found Reeves breaking in behind the Strikers defence. Reeves put a great ball across into the box but no Fire attacker managed to get a foot to it.
Fire had further scares; in the 74th minute Wall had to make another 1v1 save and another in the 79th minute when a ball bounced off the left post into the arms of Wall as he turned to watch the ball pass by.
Fire had several late free kicks which Blackmore floated into the box for the big lads from the Fire defence to get headers to without success. Fire continued to look for that elusive first goal but were devastated when a Strikers attacker slipped in behind the tiring Fire defence in the 89th minute and from the backline slipped a ball across the Fire box for a tap in for Peter Khemis to make it 3-0.
Not finished yet however, Lofthouse won a free kick for Fire to the right off the Strikers’ penalty box in the 90th minute. As he stepped up to take it there was an expectation that he would float it into the crowded box but Blackmore was sitting unmarked deep outside the top of the box. Lofthouse placed a low accurately weighted ball into the path of the unmarked Blackmore on a late run and at pace he opened his body and from outside the box curled the ball around the charging defenders and inside the right post to make it 3-1.
Player of the Match: Ollie Blackmore
