Junior Wrap: 17 & 18 February 2018

Junior Wrap: 17 & 18 February 2018

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[tab_item title=”Under 13 Boys”]

Mitchelton FC (FQPL) (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)

The third round of fixtures saw the Fire U13s head to Brisbane to take on Mitchelton FC for a second successive FQPL/NPL match up and a first encounter between the two sides. Fire hoping it would be third time lucky as they sought to chalk up a first win of the season.

In humid conditions and under some ominous looking clouds Mitchelton got the game underway, a tentative and uncertain opening few minutes yielded nothing of note until a long range effort from the hosts headed toward the Fire goal, Bradford Green confidently claiming the ball from under his crossbar in the third minute.

Fire slowly grew in stature, excellent defensive work and positive attacking contributions down the right from the impressive Harrison Renzulli giving Fire some added impetus as they took the game to Mitchelton. Lachie Noyes was very unfortunate to see a powerful rising drive just clear the cross bar in the 7th minute. With superior territorial advantage Fire continued to prod and probe trying to find a way though the host defence, guilty at times of just holding on to the ball a fraction too long or over complicating their play.

However, the deserved breakthrough came in the 12th minute, Jett Brutnell’s though ball finding its way to Mark Shaw who was able to capitalize on the Mitchelton keeper spilling the ball to happily knock the ball into the empty net.

Aside from a tame Mitchelton effort Fire continued to press for a second, good play from Ryan Tappouras almost found Shaw again, the loose ball drilled wide by Brutnell after 16 minutes. Renzulli was involved once more as Fire passed neatly down the right, Tapporous this time sending his effort over the bar.

Following a drinks break Fire were again on the front foot. A lovely touch from Dré Ngaha then found Kaidin Dawson, the play ending with Shaw being foiled by the home keeper on 23 minutes. Shaw would not have long to wait before adding his, and Fire’s second of the game. In the 26th minute, twisting and turning in the Mitchelton area, after a combination of Ngaha, Dawson and Brutnell had picked out the livewire striker; Shaw eventually turned and saw his deflected shot nestle in the bottom of the Mitchelton goal.

Tappouras was again in the middle of the action in the 28th minute, intercepting a loose ball out of defence but was unfortunately high and wide with his effort, more good passing gave Tappouras another sight of goal shortly after but this time he saw his shot saved. Fire continued to impress with more strong contributions down the left from Ngaha, Beppe Rocco and Brutnell and despite creating a succession of openings and half chances, further goals to support their first half dominance just wouldn’t come.

Half Time: Mitchelton FC (0) – Sunshine Coast FC (2)

Fire restarted the game but a warning sign came within the first minute of the half when it required a combination of Renzulli and Luke Vancam to clear Fire’s defensive lines, but respite was short lived, as Mitchelton gained a foothold by scoring in the 39th minute when the Mitchelton forward outpaced the Fire defence and gave Green little chance with a powerful, high shot beyond him.

Fire continued to try to play the passing game that had given them such a positive first half performance, a strong run from Rocco ended with Noyes sending his effort straight at the keeper in the 41st minute, Rocco again setting up Shaw in the box on 43 minutes only for him to be crowded out. A key moment arrived in the 45th minute following a Mitchelton corner, only partially cleared by Fire, a fiercely struck drive looked to be heading goal bound until Green contorting and adjusting his direction in the air, made a flying, instinctive save to keep Fire ahead. Brutnell saw an effort drift wide in the 49th minute as the game began to turn in favour of the hosts.

Fire seemed to drop in energy levels midway through the half and began to invite pressure on themselves with a succession of misplaced passes and poor control. After a second drinks break the final quarter of the game became battle of attrition and back to the wall defending as Mitchelton relentless pressed. Fire were grateful to their defence, with scrambled clearances and blocks, replacing composure and control. Ngaha, Renzulli, Herbie Allsopp and Vancam all making important interventions as Fire desperately hung on to their slender advantage. Mitchelton were gifted one final chance to score in the dying seconds when an alarmingly bizarre decision awarded the hosts a corner, fortunately Fire again saw out the danger and, clearly exhausted, were able to celebrate a first win of the season.

Full Time: Mitchelton FC (1) – Sunshine Coast FC (2)

Player of the Match: Harrison Renzulli

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[tab_item title=”Under 14 Boys”]

Mitchelton FC (FQPL) (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (11)

The third round of the season was Sunshine Coast FC Fire’s scheduled match was another friendly game against FQPL club Mitchelton FC.

Sunshine Coast FC Fire started strong with the first minute seeing Lucas Kljajcin deliver the ball from the back to Matthew Becker in the midfield who laid it off to Harry McMillan on the right, taking on two players to place our first goal on the board.

Sunshine Coast FC continued to move the ball trying to gather momentum. The tenth minute saw a pass from Maxx Demerutis to McMillan, for him to drive forward up the wing and cross to Jake Rocker to score.

Mitchelton FC didn’t give up, taking the ball up the left wing using the speed and pace of Mihaly Sesztak to cross the ball into the back of the net for Mitchelton FC’s first goal on the 12th minute.

Sunshine Coast FC retaliated quickly with a pass out from the middle to McMillan who struck the ball across the face of the goals for Rocker to tap in.

Half Time: Mitchelton FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (3)

Second half and Sunshine Coast FC came out on fire, working as a team to move the ball towards goal. Driving forward up the right wing McMillan was shut down by Mitchelton FC’s defence. A reset of play with a pass from McMillan back to Kljajcin, who delivered the ball to Riley Visona then onto Demerutis, who threaded a pass through to Becker up the front for him to score on the 37th minute.

On the restart of play Sunshine Coast FC didn’t hold back pushing towards the goal again. A pass from Becker through to Rocker who bolstered through Mitchelton FC’s defence resulted in a goal and Rocker’s hat trick when Rocker kicked the ball over the keeper’s head on the 39th minute.

A lapse in Sunshine Coast FC’s concentration saw Mitchelton FC break away and presented with a one on one opportunity with Sunshine Coast keeper Matai Sisarich. Keeper Sisarich put his body on the line to shut down the attempt.

Sunshine Coast FC regained composure and persistence to push forward. A corner taken by Visona deflected by the Mitchelton keeper to the feet of Dimitri Pritchard allowed him to score on the 49th minute.

The intensity of the Sunshine Coast FC attack didn’t stop with another corner taken by Visona followed in by a header from Becker on the 52nd minute.

The 62nd minute saw a delivery from the back by Tyler Loveridge to Ari Sisarich on the left, forward to Harrison Whitelaw on the wing who crossed the ball to Visona in the middle for him to score.

McMillan took possession of the ball at right back, taking on numerous players up the line. From the top right of the pitch McMillan struck the ball across the goals to score in the bottom left hand corner.

Joshua Kacperski took advantage of the space as he ran the ball from centre back through the midfield to offload to Visona a goal on the 69th minute.

A foul on Demerutis within seconds of the restart of play allowed for a free kick taken by Pritchard to be followed in by Becker for his hat trick and a goal on the 70th minute.

Full Time: Mitchelton FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (11)

Player of the Match: Jake Rocker

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[tab_item title=”Under 15 Boys”]

Mitchelton FC (FQPL) (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)

In the extreme heat the U15 boys showed up to play Mitchelton FC.

It didn’t take long before Fire put their first shot on goal in the 1st minute by Fire’s attacking winger Corne Boshoff.

Fire kept the pressure on Mitchelton and dominated possession. This pressure forced an own goal by a Mitchelton player, putting Fire into an early lead in the 4th minute.

Some great combinations where displayed on field and the boys starting to gel as a team.

Mitchelton redeemed themselves in the 31st minute scoring a goal.

Half Time: Mitchelton FC (1) – Sunshine Coast FC (1)

The ball didn’t seem to fall Fire’s way in the second half. Passes were not sticking and simple errors allowed Mitchelton to dominate possession.

Again, Fire relied heavily on their defence lead by Halls-Tempest and goal keeper Morwood.

The injection of Williams into the game composed Fire’s agitated players as he calmly provided some solid passes and giving Fire some momentum.

Full Time: Mitchelton FC (1) – Sunshine Coast FC (1)

Player of the Match: Josh Morwood: His goal keeping ability is first class saving many goals for his Fire team.

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