Under 12 Boys
Moreton Bay United FC (0) v Sunshine Coast Fire (6)
*Not submitted
Under 13 Boys
Moreton Bay United FC (0) v Sunshine Coast Fire (1)
An unbeaten Sunshine Coast Fire 13 Boys faced Moreton Bay Jets in a top versus bottom encounter.
For a team only having taken one point all season Moreton Bay Jets started the game well and competed strongly with the Sunshine Coast Fire in all areas of the pitch.
The Fire struggled to settle into their normal flow of their game mainly due to some wayward passing and tight man-to-man marking by the Jets’ players.
The Fire dominated possession, however, just couldn’t generate an end product of a goal.
Moreton Bay were unlucky not to go in half-time one nil up when their striker ended up one on one with Josh Croft on an excellent counter attack. Croft did well coming out, narrowing the angle to prevent a certain goal.
The second half continued in much the same manner with the Fire becoming more and more frustrated the longer the game went on without a goal
However, the frustrations were eased when a strong drive into the corner of the box by Harry Arnison resulted in him being tripped by one of the Moreton Bay defenders. Arnison got up to take the penalty and converted a well struck penalty into the bottom right hand corner
Rather than settling the Sunshine Coast Fire players down their play continued to be still very nervous and tentative; which was out of character for the runaway NPL leaders.
Moreton Bay were unlucky not to equalise, in what would have been a very well deserved goal, however, Lucas Terpcou made and excellent stop to save the Fire’s blushes
Players of the Match: Josh Croft & Lucas Terpcou – the goalkeepers were excellent today pulling off critical saves in each half to keep the Fire team in the game. Both also contributed well with their distribution and ball playing across the defensive line
Under 13 Girls
Peninsula Power FC (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (3)
The game had a quick start with Peninsula scoring in the 5th minute to get an early point. A play down the left side and an opening from Fire allowed Peninsula to have a shot which placed the ball into the back right of the net. After being scored against in the 5th minute, the girls held their nerve and kept patient.
Passing game continues to improve and not just passing for the sake of passing, building plays from keeping the ball alive. Down the middle, Emily Bolland drew in the backline, with a through ball to Georgia Harle giving her a one on one to score in the 22nd minute.
Harle and Bolland repeated their play 3 minutes later for Harle to score again, gaining the advantage for Fire.
Bolland scored the final goal of the game in the 36rd minute from a Peninsula handball in the box.
Despite many attempts at scoring, neither team was able to score any extra goals in the second half.
Player of the Match: Annie Campbell
Under 14 Boys
Moreton Bay United FC (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (2)
Having a few of last year’s Brisbane City players now in their team, Moreton Bay was an unknown opposition and their results this season have been up and down. However, the Fire team knew that Moreton Bay would be determined to put an end to the Fire’s winning form.
Both teams hit the ground running and were knocking the ball around well. So Moreton Bay were a little stunned in the 3rd minute when a corner kick from Kaelan Debbage went over the dummy header of Oli Williams, for Daniel Cuttler to volley which fell to Tom Whittaker’s feet for him to drive the ball into the left of goal. (0-1)
This rattled Moreton Bay and they dropped their intensity; Fire dominated the play for the next 15 minutes. Sean Bentley was playing well in the midfield, making some nice tackles and distributing the ball well.
However for the second quarter of the first half, Moreton Bay lifted their game and put pressure on the Fire defence. Their forwards were also pressing when the Fire tried to play out; this saw the Fire playing direct to the midfield.
However the 18th minute saw a ball turned over in the midfield, which was then crossed to an unmarked Moreton Bay player and GK Nathan Foster was forced to make a slide smother save and again with another shot at the Fire goal in the 20th minute, but it was also taken comfortably by Foster.
A nice display of passing came in the 23rd minute by Tom Whittaker, Joseph Higginson and Owen Brader, when a 1-2 combo was run up the right side of the field.
The Fire continued to give away possession and a ball was turned over by the Fire defence in the 27th minute. It was crossed in over the heads of the Fire defence to find an unmarked player and GK Foster dropped to his left but Billy Haynes headed the ball into the right of goal. (1-1)
Tom Whittaker made a break up the left side of the field in the 30th minute and beat several players but the shot was chipped over the goal.
Having limited options GK Foster played out to Oli Williams and the Fire could have gone to the break 2-1 down, but a well-timed foul on Williams saw the play brought back for a free kick.
Moreton Bay came out into the second half with a point to prove and played some fast and direct football. Yet Mackenar Bradfield showed his skill and placed a nice through ball in the 41st minute for Tom Whittaker to shoot, but Moreton’s Bay GK made a nice smother save.
The tackles were solid from both teams and it seemed at times the Yellow card was stuck in the referee’s pocket, especially in the 46th minute. A foul tackle on Tom Whittaker went unchecked and the ball fell for Joseph Higginson to have a shot on goal, but it was fumbled by Moreton Bay’s GK to go over the back line for a corner.
However, Tom Whittaker’s perseverance was rewarded in the 47th minute after a nice run into the box. Whittaker with three opposition players surrounding him, held the players off long enough for one of them to kick him from behind and foul him to the left of goal. Harry Fletcher stepped up to take the penalty against his former club and made no mistake in driving the ball into the top left of the net. (1-2)
With the game averaging 50/50 possession, a switch of some players was made. Kaelan Debbage was placed into the left back position to shut down the attacking runs that were being made up the right side of the field. Debbage showed great hustle and intensity and his speed saw Moreton Bay quickly change their tactics to the left side. Debbage’s body positioning and anticipation of the play was outstanding.
The 58th minute saw a nice run from Tom Whittaker to pass a direct ball for Archie Waterson to play through for Daniel Cuttler to shoot, but it was denied by the right side of the post. Again in the 60th minute, Daniel Cuttler was away with the ball before being ankle tapped from behind. Oli Williams took the free kick, but the ball went over the top of the goal.
A nice run by Mackenar Bradfield after dispossessing a defender in the 62nd minute saw him shoot at goal but it went into the side netting and Harrison Hooper did well to block a direct shot only a few metres out of goal in the 64th minute.
The referee finally found the Yellow card that was hiding in his pocket and it was awarded to Moreton Bay player Billy Haynes in the 65th minute for dissent.
Fire held their position well and their distribution was good in the first and last quarter of the game. However during the middle 30 minutes, Fire seemed to lose focus and were giving away too may fouls from their first touch and turning over possession. There was no anticipation or coming to the ball which resulted in the ball getting bogged down in the midfield and this is where the majority of the play was in that middle 30 minutes. A 2-1 win was probably a fair outcome in this game however at times the team played scrappy football in order to push forward and play the ball.
Player of the Match: Kaelan Debbage
Under 15 Boys
Moreton Bay United FC (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (1)
Sunshine Coast Fire travelled to Wolter Park to meet the league leaders Moreton Bay on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Moreton Bay were undefeated, having dropped just the two points this year while Fire are sitting in third having been undefeated since a Round 1 loss to Palm Beach.
The match started at a good pace, with both teams closing down the spaces quickly leaving little room for dwelling on the ball. Most of the chances were coming from set pieces as both sides were quick to shut down their opponents and a number of fouls and corners were being given thanks to some desperate defence by both sides
Moreton Bay slightly edged the first ten or so minutes, with some pace on both flanks causing issues and on 13 minutes they took the lead after a free kick from out wide wasn’t dealt with and the ball dropped to the Moreton Bay midfielder who powered the ball through a crowded area into the net.
The goal didn’t affect the Fire’s confidence though as they began to get control of the match from this point and could have equalised almost immediately but for a good save from the Jets keeper after Terone Wattedegara chance.
Some good work from Kurtis Modlin out wide gave Fire another chance that wasn’t taken and the resultant corner was headed just over by Max Footitt as the balls into the box started to worry the Jets defence.
Tom Croft saw a good header saved on 36 minutes before a corner just before half time gave Fire a deserved equaliser. An excellent cross from Mitchell Bridge found Kurtis Modlin unmarked and he placed his header into the net.
The second half opened up a little as both sides tired. David Payne in the Fire goal went down well to save a one on one early in the half to keep scores level
Max Footitt then rose well to out jump the Jets keeper and his header looked destined to give Sunshine Coast the lead but for a very good goal line clearance from the Jets.
An injury to Bailey Waern, who had been outstanding at centre back, meant a reshuffle, but the boys stuck to the game plan and continued creating opportunities but the final touch or pass just wouldn’t fall their way.
Some good defence from Aiden Castillo and Taj Suffolk kept the dangerous Moreton Bay wingers fairly quiet in the second half, but both sides had their chances in an end to end battle.
In the end both sides settled for a point in what was a good, hard-fought encounter.
Player of the Match: Max Footitt
Under 15 Girls
Peninsula Power FC (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (9)
The Fire girls played brilliantly as a team to win against Peninsula Power 9-1. The girls have been playing really well so it was only a matter of time before they got another win.
In the first half, the girls got their first goal from Annie Dennis winning the ball off Peninsula’s goal kick she then cut it back to Jazmyn Rodger-Young after only 9 minutes of play.
The 2nd goal came from a whole team effort, Jane Uebergang won the ball from the throw in played a one-two to Annie before taking it down the line and cutting it back to Jazmyn for her 2nd goal of the day.
In the 2nd half, the girls came back with even more determination and won each of their 1-on-1 battles. Peninsula put up a good fight right until the end and scored a great long range shot that was just out of reach for our keeper.
Goals included a hat trick for both Alex Cannon and Jazmyn Rodger-Young. Jane Uebergang, Hannah Taylor and Annie Dennis each got one after an excellent team performance.
Under 16 Boys
Moreton Bay United FC (2) v Sunshine Coast Fire (2)
On a fine and sunny Mother’s Day, Moreton Bay and Fire faced off for the first time this season. Moreton Bay had been getting good results this year as a sign of their improved showing under a new coach.
Moreton Bay started with great intent and did not allow the Fire boys to settle on the ball. However, the Fire had the best of the early chances and Callum Jones fired over the bar from a free kick after 1 minute. Three minutes later a free kick from Ollie Blackmore floated dangerously into the penalty but Moreton Bay defence cleared and Callum Jones was again involved when he hit the post after 5 minutes. A minute later Fire were again on the attack and the resulting corner saw James Beckman’s header pass just wide of the post.
Moreton Bay were looking to get forward but it was Fire who went on the attack again in the 13th minute when Kobe Fuller put Matt Cann clear on the left but his low shot was well covered by the Morten Bay keeper.
From their first real chance of the game Moreton Bay opened up the Fire defence with a series of neat passes after 15 minutes, with the final ball a one-two in behind the last Fire defender and the Moreton Bay attacker was able to get his foot to the ball first and his touch was enough to beat the advancing Josh Wall to score. Moreton Bay 1 – Fire 0.
Fire had to regroup having conceded first and responded well but could not find the equaliser. Moreton Bay were energised by their goal and it became a very physical encounter in the midfield as Fire were trying to build some momentum but Moreton Bay were doing their best to quickly break down the Fire attacks.
At the 35 minute mark the Fire worked possession across the park trying to pry open the Moreton Bay left side defence and held possession for at least 15 passes before Addi Brader was away toward goal. The Moreton Bay defender desperately scrambled the ball away for a corner. It was an inspiring passage of play from the Fire boys.
In the 38th minute Sean Culpitt blocked a Moreton Bay shot and from the resulting Fire possession Callum Jones was able to put a diagonal ball to Aiden Wall in the clear on the left but with little angle Aiden could only drill the ball into the side netting.
Having gone in at half time 1-0 down the Fire were determined to start strongly in the second half. Fire pressed high against Moreton Bay from the kick off but fortuitously for Moreton Bay a resulting free kick played forward glanced off the head of an attacker into the path of a team mate at full stretch in behind the Fire defence who were caught off guard. Before they could re -organise the Fire were down 2-0.
Not the start to the second half the Fire boys were looking for. It took them a little while to get back into their stride but to their credit they began to build pressure on Moreton Bay.
2-0 is always a difficult score to sit back and defend and Moreton Bay lost control of the midfield as Fire were trying to find a way through the Moreton Bay defence. In the 48th minute a ball came awkwardly to Ollie Blackmore on his chest just on the edge of the Moreton Bay penalty box and the ball wouldn’t drop quickly enough as the defence tried to close him down. His left foot snapshot cleared the cross bar.
In the 55th minute Fire looked to have cracked the defence from another ball from Sean Culpitt out of defence to Addi Brader who found Aiden Ward charging in behind the last defender. The keeper parried Aiden’s low hard shot into the path of Jack Bowen who fired the ball back into what seemed a tangle of Moreton Bay bodies desperate to keep Fire scoreless. Was it going to be a Mother‘s Day to remember for Moreton Bay?
Moreton Bay could not reproduce the intensity they had in the first half and began to increasingly rely on long balls out of defence which nearly paid off for them when the Fire were caught square in the 56th minute. Fortunately for the Fire the attacker shot well over the bar from a long way out.
On the hour quick feet from Ollie Blackmore saw him split two defenders going forward on the left and put Kobe Fuller through into the penalty box. Kobe rode a hard shoulder- to- shoulder challenge from the defender and managed to steer the ball inside the far post as he tried to maintain his balance. 2-1 and the Fire were still in it.
Both sides showed signs of the growing tension in the match as Fire looked for the equaliser and Moreton Bay tried to preserve their slender lead. Moreton Bay began to waste time and tried to break up the rhythm of the game by numerous substitutions.
Fire were finishing the stronger of the two teams and were rewarded for the more positive approach to the game in the 72nd minute when Addi Brader in space on the right made an incisive run into the box and found the back of the net to make it 2-2.
Moreton Bay were looking worried as they tried to keep Fire out and deny them a late winner. Fire attacked again and again and in the 75th minute Ollie Blackmore put Aiden Ward through on the left. Aiden was looking to set himself up on his dangerous left foot but the Moreton Bay defender drilled the ball away as hard as he could over the sideline and it clattered into the perimeter fence. Again in the 78th minute Ollie turned a defender and put Kye Yamaoka-Chapman into space but his shot agonisingly just cleared the cross bar.
Moreton Bay earned a couple of late yellow cards as Fire were trying to find that elusive winner.
The final half chance came to Jack Bowen in the 80th minute in a race to the ball as the Moreton Bay keeper put his body on the line to deny Jack in a one-on -one nail biter.
The final score stayed at 2-2 and the Fire would have to be satisfied with a hard earned point and set up a much anticipated return match with Moreton Bay. The boys today showed some real character in their fightback in the second half and would have made their Mum’s very proud.
Player of the Match: Aiden Ward
Under 18 Boys
SWQ Thunder FC (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (1)
*Not submitted
Youth Women
Peninsula Power FC (2) v Sunshine Coast Fire (1)
The Fire struggled to play with their usual flair and control today. It was a tough contest in hot conditions with Power applying constant pressure on the Fire team. Whilst several key players were missed today through injury and illness in the squad the loan players Emily and Alisha did really well individually and as well as could be expected in combination with the team considering they had not played together before.
Brooke Matheson scored a cracker of a goal in the 77th minute with a beautiful high cross from outside the penalty area. The team lifted and almost equalised but attacking moves seemed to break down at critical moments. The performance was also injury affected with two players carried off during the match.
Players of the Match: Holly Vidulich, for her control and persistence in defence & Teyana Bielby, for her high work rate and play on the wing.
