The Fire Under 18 Boys defeated fellow PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland team Moreton Bay 2-1 in the second round of the 2015 Macron Cup on Sunday, January 25 at H.A. Dalton Park.
In hot conditions, the Fire boys looked to continue the good form they had displayed the previous week in the 1-4 victory over Peninsular Power. Seven minutes in the Fire saw the first chance when Cam Nairn held up the ball and used a cheeky back-heel to release Jordy Irwin on the left hand side. Irwin’s cross came close but Moreton Bay’s defence was quick to deal with the threat.
Fire settled after 15 minutes and started to dominate the game with more chances created by Jacob Fulluck, Jordy Lloyd and Jordy Vieira. It was Vieira who released a determined Fulluck in behind the Jet’s defence for him to finish at the far post.
Fire continued to press and Jack Bowen made an immediate impact when substituted on, looking set to add to the scoreline with some great work down the right side. He presented chances to Gabriel Dennis, Kobe Fuller and Fulluck.
Defensively the Fire held strong with only a few long distance shots and a few corners to deal with.
The score remained 1-0 to the Fire heading into half-time.
The pressure was on from the whistle in the second half as Fuller pounced on a poor pass to drive past the centre back and go 1v1 with the keeper to neatly slot the ball over his head.
Fire kept creating chances when Jordy Lloyd latched on to a long pass over the back four, however his shot did not have the power to trouble the Jets’ keeper.
Free kicks from both Vieira and Lloyd were on target but saved by the keeper.
Luke Devitt created chances with some great penetrating passes and strong runs but a third goal proved elusive.
Morten Bay struck late when a poorly dealt with corner fell to the Jets’ number 15 who calmly dinked the ball over stranded keeper Luke Marker’s head to put the Jets back in the game. However it was Fire who had the last chance when Fulluck picked up the ball and from the centre-circle and drove towards Moreton’s defence beating three and looking to get his shot off but a last ditched challenge broke his attack before the last whistle blew.
Coach Daniel Carew said the team had put in a great performance with special mention to Luke Devitt, Liam Culpitt, Jordy Vieira and Sean Pateman.
“New player Isaac Watson was also solid and adapted quickly when put under pressure, while Under 16 boys Kobe Fuller and Jack Bowen were very impressive,” he said.
