Under 12 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (1) v Brisbane City FC (5)
A much anticipated game to kick off the start of the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2016 season between what is to be expected to be two of the very best teams in the league.
City started very strong on the ball in the first minute holding most of the possession and putting a shot over the cross bar immediately. City had another chance just 45 seconds later, but Fire’s goalkeeper Ben Nassiep is all over it. Unfortunately Fire couldn’t keep possession and in the 2nd minute City’s #2 registers the first goal.
Fire goalkeeper Nassiep, made some great saves as City continued to penetrate the defensive line and shoot. In the 11th minute City again pushed forward and #15 scored from outside the box.
Fire Captain Samuel Klein had three shots on goal in the next five minutes but fails to hit the back of the net all three times pushing them over the cross bar. The next 15 minutes was spent with possession going back and forth, end to end, as neither team could hold possession of the ball. With 10 minutes to go in the first half City made three substitutions.
City’s #17 made a great run, followed by a pass to #2 who had a solid shot on goal but was denied by a great save by Nassiep. In the 23rd minute Nathan Weckert got a chance 1v1 with the City keeper who made the save, denying Weckert Fire’s first goal.
A great cross by Jake Rocker but was comfortably saved by City’s keeper and an immediate counter attack by City resulted in #17 beating two players to score just inside the left post.
Fire play beautifully out of the back to the right side, a great through ball by Flynn Faulkner to Weckert who is called offside. Referees added five extra minutes which saw Kyle Barnes have a great run and shot on goal which was once again denied by the keeper.
Dimitri Westwood-Pritchard had a good run into the box and passed back to Klein who put another shot over the crossbar.
Fire regathered at half-time and were able to tighten up on the ball and put City under pressure for a majority of the 2nd half.
Weckert received a ball from Faulkner early in the second half and scores but is yet again called offside. For the next seven minutes both teams struggle to keep possession of the ball and in the 44thminute City get a rare run into the box and score in the right corner.
A great save by Fire’s interchange keeper Riley Schaumburg in the 48th minute denied another City goal. A well-structured set move by Rocker down the right hand side was crossed in but failed to find Fire’s forwards to convert.
A penalty was awarded in the 56th minute to City who converted to bring the score up to 5-0. In the 57th minute Fire’s backline held strong against two waves of attack by City. In the 60th minute Klein had another shot on goal and puts it over the crossbar. A great switch initiated by Maxx Demerutis in the 67th minute to Kyan Bryant who shot and hit the crossbar.
Gibbs took another shot on goal in the 68th minute which cleared the crossbar again.
Soon after, the keeper couldn’t clear the ball quick enough and Klein finished putting Fire on the scoreboard just seconds before full-time. One final run was made by Fire in the dying seconds with a great pass from Klein to Barnes who was again ruled offside in a finish that seemed to mirror the rest of the match.
Player of the Match: Maxx Demerutis
Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (3) v Brisbane City FC (11)
It was a difficult first game for Fire as Brisbane City had recruited well in the off season with many new faces in the team that had played the Fire Under 12s in the last game of season 2015. City started well, applying early pressure and it only took 2 minutes for them to open up the Fire defence and slot the ball into the bottom corner of the Fire net.
Fire tried to settle the game down however the new look City team continued to apply pressure and by the 17th minute led 4 nil. With Todd Camm moving into the number 6 position and steadying the ship, Fire slowly began to work their way back into the match. After some lovely midfield combinations Alex Patterson sliced through the City defence to find himself 1v1 with the City keeper. Patterson again showed why he is one of the most respected strikers in the league as he guided the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. With a small glimmer of hope the Fire tried to work their way back into the match. Jake Debbage worked hard down the right wing always looking to exploit the City defence and Matt Gaske looked dangerous as he floated between attacking lines. Unfortunately the City pressure on the ball was just too great at times and Fire went to the break 6-1 down.
After the half time interval, Fire looked a better team and began to put together some much better passages of play. Patrick Swindles and Aaron Smith began to find some space down the right and combined well together with eventually Smith deservedly finding the net, however by that stage the scored had blown out to 9-2.
Not to be outdone, Jake Debbage finally added his name to the score sheet after a few fine previous attempts. New Fire players performed very well in their first game with no one looking out of place at NPL Level. Matt Toye always looked comfortable on the ball and Jake Ellenberger turned the City defence several times as he drove into space.
Player of the Match: Todd Camm. Todd is always calm on the ball and stopped a few City attacks with excellent positioning and tackling.
Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (1) v Brisbane City FC (4)
Fire dominated a majority of the last half, although it was City who scored twice playing with the wind behind them, despite some great work from goal keeper Josh Croft. Fire were definitely still in the match at half time despite being down 2-0 in the half.
In the 21st minute, City’s Harry Skinner drove the ball, with the wind behind him, from outside the box, high and wide of the keeper for the opening goal of the game.
A long ball from Brisbane City in the 33rd minute beat the entire Fire team, found Arthur Antonis who slotted the ball into the back of the net for Brisbane’s second goal.
Fire seemed lost in the second half as their edge and tempo dropped off.
Three minutes after returning from the break, City’s Chris Morseray beat the Fire defence and scored. Soon after, Brisbane’s Rafa Velardo shot from just inside the box. Fire keeper Josh Croft looked to have the shot covered, however the ball rebounded off his arms and in to the back of the net.
Fire’s comeback came too late as Jack Beardsley took a shot and from the ensuring scramble, regained the ball to beat the keeper with just two minutes remaining.
Player of the Match: Ezekiel Hawkins. Great all round effort, defended well and limited the scoring opportunities of the dangerous striker Morseray.
Under 15 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (3) v Brisbane City FC (2)
Sunshine Coast Fire started the season with a tough test against last year’s Champions Brisbane City. Plenty of rain during the week saw the pitches in perfect condition to play football, and the cooler than normal weather allowed for a fast and free flowing match.
Fire began the match extremely well with some balls played in behind the City defence giving an indication of the problems Tom Whittaker, Budd Baublys and Kaelan Debbage were going to cause a back line that tried to play a high line.
Two very early chances from Whittaker saw Fire close to taking the lead and in the 6th minute Fire took a deserved lead when a Kaelan Debbage corner was headed home by Whittaker from close range.
Fire continued to press and had two or three good opportunities to go further in front, with some good combinations between fullbacks Keegan New and Harry Bowen and wingers Budd Baulbys and Kaelan Debbage causing City plenty of problems.
City began to take a stranglehold in the midfield as the half wore on as the Fire defence and keeper came under some intense pressure. A couple of good saves and the ball hitting the crossbar saw City take some control and on 38 minutes they scored a deserved equalizer with a well-placed shot from inside the 18 yard box
The perfect response came within a minute as once again a good direct pass saw Tom Whittaker out pace and out muscle his opponent, before lifting the ball over the keeper and placing the ball in the net.
Fire took a 2-1 lead into the second half, and once again the early exchanges saw Fire take control early on. City started to become a little more physical with some strong challenges flying in and on 45 minutes a free kick saw Fire take a 3-1 lead. Jordan Meredith played a ball down the line to Kaelan Debbage who whipped in a great cross for Whittaker to head home his hat trick.
With a two goal buffer, Fire continued to create chances, and Lochlan Tolputt almost scored an absolute cracker as his shot from 30 plus yards smashed against the crossbar.
As happened in the first half, City began to pile some pressure on as the Fire midfield three continued with what was a good battle. Fire back four all played a huge role in keeping the City attacks at bay as did Eligh Williams in goal who collected some good high balls to relieve the growing pressure.
On 75 minutes City grabbed a lifeline, as a soft free kick was quickly taken. The ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and fell to the City attacker who finished well.
Five frantic minutes were dealt with without too much incident and the whistle blew with the Fire coming away 3-2 winners in what was a good hard working team performance.
Player of the Match: Tom Whittaker
Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (2) v Brisbane City FC (1)
With the first game of the season, Fire were keen to start the year off with a win at home.
Fire’s scoring opportunities came early as a long ball played from Nathan Foster to Taj Suffolk, who chipped past the keeper but went wide.
Kurtis Modlin secured Fire’s lead on 11 minutes after beating a City defender to put away a great left-footed cross into the corner of the City goals.
The first 20 minutes was scrappy but both teams were settled by 25 minutes. Fire started to get into a rhythm, moving the ball around and keeping possession.
On 37 minutes, Fire scored a goal from a set play starting with a free kick. Terone Wattegedara turned to receive the ball and tucked past the City goalkeeper for Fire’s second goal of the game.
Fire began the second half looking much better, moving the ball and keeping possession. Neither team gave away any chances and played a physical game up until the 64th minute when Terone Wattegedara took a shot from a through ball which was saved by a dive from the City keeper.
Closing in on 80 minutes, Brisbane City made a break down centre field with a pass behind the Fire defence. City’s forward made it to the ball before Fire keeper Foster and planted it into the right side of the net for Brisbane to deny a shut-out.
Player of the Match: Terone Wattegedara
