Under 12 Boys – SWQ Thunder FC (5) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
These sides had met twice this season, a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the season and a 2-3 win to Fire at Toowoomba in Round 10. Both sides have endured difficult seasons and are in the league’s bottom three, Fire though would fancy their chances against the league’s basement team who had yet to win a game.
The home side got the game underway but it was Fire who made all the early running as the game settled.
After snuffing out a SWQ foray Lachie Noyes brought the ball out of defence playing it forward to Hayden White whose pass to Luke Vancam allowed the Fire winger a chance to shoot after five minutes.
Fire opened the scoring after seven minutes with a goal that their early play deserved. Kaiden Dawson firing in from the edge of the box after a strong run from his right back position, and a little help from a goalkeeping error.
On ten minutes Herbie Allsopp found Mark Shaw on the left and with a combination of the hardworking and impressive White and the lively Vancam, Jett Wouters fired in a shot that was blocked.
After 12 minutes Fire had their first scare, when from a Fire corner, SWQ hit a long clearance downfield, with the striker clean through Lachie Noyes did brilliantly to chase him down and make a superb tackle. Fire were soon back on the offensive and forced another corner which was again cleared with distance and this time Fire were not so fortunate, as SWQ scored an equalizer against the run of play after 16 minutes.
Fire continued to be the better side though, Dré Ngaha running from full back to hit a shot just wide on 19 minutes, a minute later, after a Mark Shaw cross was headed clear, Ryan Tappouras struck a wonderful first time volley that was only narrowly over.
Ngaha broke clear for Fire following SWQ Thunder corner, and played a lovely pass behind the SWQ defence for Wouters who was tripped in the box as he was about to shoot. From the resulting penalty, Wouters made no mistake and restored Fire’s advantage.
After some more great passing in midfield Deepal Maharaj tried his luck but his effort was saved. Fire would be content to go in at the half time break deservedly leading the match 1-2.
It was a different Fire that took to the field in the second half, and almost immediately SWQ dew level from a corner, conceded after Noyes had been forced the clear off his own line, after 34 minutes keeper Alec Lavender was also forced to make a save as Thunder pressed for the advantage.
On 40 minutes, Thunder’s early dominance paid off and took the lead after Allsopp’s headed clearance was picked up by a SWQ player who, without another Fire player close by to put in a challenge, was allowed time to pick his spot and rifle a low shot into the right hand corner.
Fire were lacking momentum, shape and generally struggling to maintain any structure to their play, a half chance coming midway through the half when a long ball forward was chased by Wouters through to the Thunder goalkeeper who did well under pressure to control the ball and pass it out to his defence.
SWQ extended their lead on 48 minutes when another shot from the edge of the area found the far corner. After 50 minutes positive play from Ngaha, now playing higher up the pitch, forced his way into the penalty area and was clumsily tripped, unfortunately for Fire, his low penalty was well saved down to his left by the SWQ keeper. Shortly after Shaw was unable to prod home following a scramble in the Thunder box after another Ngaha run and cross, Tapporous also fired in from distance but Fire were unable to lift their play sufficiently to drag themselves back into the game.
Thunder finally secured their first win of the season at the 19th attempt when they added a fifth goal in the last minute to give them a comprehensive 5-2 victory.
Under 13 Boys – SWQ Thunder FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (0)
Round 19 and this was Fire’s last match up of the season against South West Queensland Thunder, a top of the table clash, where both teams had a win under their belt and were looking to settle the score.
The teams headed out on to a rough pitch ready to tough it out to secure a win to gain the upper hand in the top end of the table. From the first whistle both teams played strong, attempted to control the ball on a bumpy pitch, tackled hard and held strong in defence.
Sunshine Coast FC’s Maxx Demerutis, Jake Rocker, and Kane Gibbs placed unsuccessful shots on goal which were quickly cleaned up by the Southwest Queensland Thunder’s keeper and defence.
Thunder’s attack retaliated with Sunshine Coast FC’s defence and keeper Ben Nassiep returning the favour by nullifying any attempt from Southwest Queensland Thunder to score.
They headed into half time scoreless. 0-0
Second half Sunshine Coast FC came out determined to place a score on the board. The boys moved the ball maintaining majority of possession for the first 10 minutes however Southwest Queensland Thunder successfully shut down Sunshine Coast FC’s momentum every time they looked to have an opportunity to break away.
The rest of the half played out similar to the first, both teams strong in defence and challenging in attack with Sunshine Coast FC’s Samuel Klein and Kyan Bryant unsuccessful in their scoring opportunities.
As the final whistle blew Sunshine Coast FC left the pitch for their first draw of the season and their first scoreless game since the beginning of the 2016. A tough fought out game with neither side being able to cement a win. 0-0
Player of the Match: Jack Connors
Under 18 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (1) v Brisbane Roar FC (8)
Sunday, June 25th the Under 18 Boys approached the opening half with a fire in their belly, hoping to make an impression under the tutelage of their new game day coach.
Hosting their first home game against their QAS Roar after playing away for two weeks, Fire put themselves under pressure in the opening six minutes conceding two corners. Fire’s goal keeper Sam Porter displayed why he is the lead keeper for the U18’s with brilliant consecutive saves and winning a 1v1 challenge against the Roar.
7” With a structured build up from the back the Fire were able to capitalise on their continued pressure with a sensational first goal of the day by the Fire’s number #11 Ben Platz from outside the 18 yard box.
8” The QAS Roar hit back with a brilliant goal coming from a set play to their number #15 bringing the game to one all.
10” The QAS Roar gave away another direct free kick to Fire who were unable to finish.
The Fire playing in their new formation of 4-3-3 provided some exciting moments in attacking play by using both their number #2 & #5 to support their #7 & #11.
13” Roar missed another opportunity with a short on target which was deflected by Sam Porter – GK conceding a corner.
14” With a short corner taken by the Roar they again failed to convert with a determined save by Sam Porter.
The following few minutes showed an end to end play by both teams with Fire conceding a foul for a push in the back in the 16th minute.
18” The Roar were on the attack again after taking an earlier corner, however the Fire’s defender demonstrated a very smart play by protecting the ball and shadowing to keep possession for the goalkeeper to pick up and return play.
The Fire’s zonal defence worked well in the first half, diffusing many attacking attempts by the QAS Roar.
26” QAS Roar had a shot on goal and again saved by Fire’s goalkeeper.
28” #11 Ben Platz wins a corner for the Fire and shortly afterwards the QAS Roar concedes another foul with the Fire’s #9 Sebastian Festa narrowly missing the goal.
29” Roar again caught in an offside position awarding a free kick to the FIRE. In a QAS Roar counter attack the Fire then continue to work as a unit in pressing in defence.
32” Fire concedes another corner and what appeared to be a set play by the QAS Roar they had two attempts at a shot on goal but the absolute brilliance of Sam Porter deflected both attempts.
36” The Fire’s #11 Ben Platz made another attempt at goal which was deflected by the QAS Roar’s goalkeeper conceding a corner to the Fire.
38” The Fire’s #10 Brayden Huston continued to show throughout the first half his tenacity in following the pass and putting the QAS boys under pressure. This was further demonstrated in 41” where Brayden intercepted the QAS player and immediately counter attacked.
42” QAS Roar scored another goal by their number #15 Jonathan Mueller but was a good chase by the Fire’s #12 George Brown to put the player under pressure.
43” The halftime break couldn’t come quick enough with the Fire conceding another goal in quick succession taking the score line to 3-1 to the QAS Roar.
In the opening few minutes of the second half the QAS lads were again seeking to put the game away but Sam Porter had other ideas with another brilliant save.
48” minute from conceding an earlier corner the QAS Roar number #11 wins his first goal taking the QAS Roar to 4-1.
62” A miss Fired clearing kick in front of their own goals saw the QAS Roar quickly capitalise on the unlucky error with a goal to the their #8 Daniel Chambers taking the scoreline to 5-1
64” Fire concedes another goal to the QAS Roar player Daniel Cutler which was his second for the day. Score now 6-1
65” Fire came back from taking a free kick awards to them for a push in the back by the QAS Roar. The Fire’s #9 Sebastian Festa & #10 Brayden Huston combined to attack the opposition’s goals without finishing with an end product.
71” GOAL QAS Roar taking the scoreline to 7-1
87” GOAL QAS Roar #12 finishing from a deflection off the crossbar. Final score QAS Roar (8)-(1)
