Under 12 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (8) v SWQ Thunder FC (0)
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Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v SWQ Thunder FC (1)
The penultimate match of the season saw the Sunshine Coast Fire 13 Boys go head to head with a tough SWQ Thunder team.
The game started at a frenetic pace with Fire setting up an early chance in the first 30 seconds. Some great play released Callum Pearce down the left wing, who pulled the ball back into the six-yard box and into the path of Luke Varga. Varga looked odds-on favourite to slot the ball home. However, a Thunder defender just did enough to cause Varga to hit his shot wide. Less than a minute later the ball was being played into Thunder’s talisman striker, Lister, on the half way line, who turned and took the ball past Eze Hawkins. Lister then outpaced Cody Pyne as he drove into the Fire penalty area where he rounded the keeper and fired into the empty net to open the scoring.
The game ebbed and flowed with neither team taking control of the game. Despite this the better chances fell to the Fire with Pearce, Jack Beardsley and Jacob Smith all coming close to level the score.
Fire clearly off colour just couldn’t get their normal game play going and were lacking their usual pace and high tempo play of passing. As a consequence the game became scrappy and at times bad-tempered as frustrations over spilled, which resulted in a series of yellow cards.
The Fire were unlucky to not to score when an excellent first time shot by Sam Aitkin was met with a fantastic one-handed save by the Thunder keeper, who tipped the ball over the bar. The Fire even had the ball in the back of the net after a great shot by Brok Ross was turned in at the far post by Pearce, who was then harshly adjudged to be offside.
The Fire kept the pressure on but this was well absorbed by a resilient SWQ Thunder team and so the game ended with a Fire team losing only their second game of the season. But that’s football for you!!
Player of the Match: Rory Stenhouse – had a solid game at full back, making some crucial challenges as well as bringing the ball out of defence well to start new attacking plays.
Under 13 Girls
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v The Gap FC (1)
The conditions were perfect for round 26 game against The Gap. The Fire girls previously played The Gap in Round 12 and defeated them 5-2 so the girls were hoping for the same performance this time around. Fire knew that this game would be tough as a few Fire players were playing whilst sick or returning from injury. The Gap held possession for most of the first half and managed to roll the ball past Fire goalkeeper Charlotte Lutz despite her efforts to save the ball. The ball quickly moved from Gap’s possession and into Fire’s but even though the ball was being played well through the centre and finding the feet of striker Georgia Harle, the girls couldn’t find the back of the net.
In the second half, Fire quickly gained possession and changed a few tactical movements which was clearly show off by the girls as Abbey Hutton found the goal from a goalkeeper error but was called offside by the linesman. Fire continued to play the ball around The Gap’s midfield and defence but failed to get the ball on target. The final whistle was blown and the game finished 1-0 to The Gap.
Player of the Match: Abbey Hutton
Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (3) v SWQ Thunder FC (1)
To maintain their second place ranking on the competition ladder, Fire needed to work as a team and play some quality Football to ensure the win.
Their last home game of the season, the Fire was instructed to give it everything they had – not be complacent, don’t waste opportunities and look to disorganise the backline and move the ball quickly.
However, Thunder came out with purpose and took the play to the Fire for the first five minutes with a succession of corners. It would be off one of these corners that Thunder would find the opening goal.
The ball was crossed in from a corner in the 6th minute and a Thunder player headed the ball down for teammate Ky Teakle to finish into the right of goal. (0-1)
Yet it didn’t take Fire long to find their rhythm and reply with their own goal when a ball was fed through for Oli Williams to take a shot at goal, but the ball deflected off the keeper and Williams made no mistake the second time and finished into goal. (1-1)
The Fire lifted and worked well with some great combination plays between Williams, Waterson and Cuttler and Kaelan Debbage was causing chaos for the Thunder defence with his pace and on-point crosses.
On the opposite wing, Tom Whittaker made an impact with his dynamic runs and had a great chance in the 25th minute with a bullet shot that went straight to the keeper.
From a corner set play in the 30th minute, the ball was bounced back for Debbage to drive the ball past the keeper from the corner of the 18-yard box. (2-1)
Another chance in the 33rd minute from a combination build up, the ball was played to Debbage in front of goal, but the ball bobbled off the uneven surface and was popped over the crossbar.
Fire continued to attack in the second half and wore down Thunder who looked fatigued in the warm afternoon sun.
A great corner from Williams found the head of Whittaker in the 40th minute, but the ball popped over the top of goal. However only one minute later, Owen Brader fed a ball through for a well-positioned Cuttler to clinically finish into goal. (3-1)
Thunder player Alick Gaske would receive a Yellow Card in the 54th minute for a hard tackle on Harry Bowen who was in full flight and away with the ball and unfortunately this tackle would see him end up with a broken wrist.
A counter attack by Thunder would see GK Kurt Moore-Barnard tip the ball over the crossbar and make a great save in the 60th minute and Brader would receive a Yellow Card for a foul tackle in the 65th minute.
Debbage showed intensity and determination all the way to full time when he made a great run, played Tom Whittaker who did well to keep the ball in and crossed it for Cuttler to finish but the shot went just right of the goal.
This great result seals Fire at second place on the ladder for the 2015 season and a good work rate and mind-set to take into their final fixture next weekend against Brisbane City.
Player of the Match: Kaelan Debbage
Under 15 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v SWQ Thunder FC (4)
*Not yet submitted
Under 15 Girls
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v The Gap FC (3)
*Not yet submitted
Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v SWQ Thunder FC (0)
The last home game for the season saw the Fire host SWQ Thunder on a warm spring day. Fire were looking to make it 3 out of 3 wins against Thunder and consolidate fourth place on the table.
Fire started with good intent when Kye Yamaoka -Chapman made a run forward from right defence in behind the Thunder defence and crossed to Kobe Fuller whose shot took a deflection and the Thunder keeper was able to gather it in.
A few minutes later Abe Reeves used his speed to also find space in behind the Thunder defence on the right and his cross found Josh Nisbet whose shot just cleared the cross bar.
In an open game Thunder were able to create their own chance after 9 minutes. The cross found the unmarked Thunder number 9 whose free header sailed over the crossbar.
Fire were building momentum and after 14 minutes a great passing move started from Yamaoka-Chapman, saw an Reeves cross-end with a shot from Aiden Ward.
Fire were getting closer to finding the net and after 15 minutes were finally rewarded with a well- constructed goal. Fuller found Ollie Blackmore in midfield whose defence splitting pass found Liam Burns overlapping on the left. Burns crossed early to find Ward on a near post run and his first time touch found the back of the net.
Fire’s defence was working well but Thunder gave Fire a scare after 20 minutes when a cross from the left travelled from left to right across the Fire goalmouth without anyone getting a touch on it.
Fire was playing well in passages but at other times the game became a little scrappy. At one stage Fire had to defend consecutive corners and struggled to get the ball away.
However, at half time Fire deserved their 1-0 lead and needed a solid second half to prevent Thunder from getting back into the game.
Fire immediately went on the attack in the second half with Kobe Fuller getting away a couple of shots on goal and Ward causing trouble for the Thunder on the left as he made a number of raids. Despite numerous attacks the final pass was breaking down and Fire was in danger of getting caught on the break on one occasion.
The warm conditions were draining on the players as the game entered the final 20 minutes and the game became a little stretched as a result.
The Fire defence of Yamaoka-Chapman on the right, James Beckman & Sean Culpitt in the middle and Burns on the left worked hard to keep Thunder out.
In the 65th minute Fire found the second goal they were looking for to seal the result when a firm Thunder clearance from the box went straight to Blackmore in central midfield. A good first touch saw Blackmore find Matt Cann charging goal ward in the middle. Cann unleashed a low, hard shot at goal where the Thunder keeper diving full stretch could only parry the ball to the feet of Nick Kirkpatrick who placed the ball in the net from close range as he followed Cann’s shot into the box.
Fire was finishing the stronger team as Thunder became frustrated at times.
In the 75th minute Burns drove well into the box on the left as he continued forward from defence. Burns was brought down and, what should have been a just reward for a solid game, had a decent shout for a penalty ignored by the referee.
Fire could have had another goal in the 78th minute when Blackmore picked up a loose ball outside the box and drove a low hard shot goal bound. Despite a slight deflection the keeper pulled off a desperate low one-handed save, diving to his right to deny the late goal and push it for a corner.
Player of Match: Kye Yamaoka-Chapman
Under 18 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (5) v Western Pride FC (0)
Sunshine Coast were looking to finish their season with a win at home against Western Pride. After Jordan Vieira won a penalty in the opening minutes by challenging a long ball into the box, he stood up and scored, opening Fire’s scoring for the game, 1-0. Western Pride then showed their set piece threat by a long ball into the box. Luke Devitt then showed intent to score, unleashing a volley from outside the box. A Glen Morris, Jed Zanos, Devitt and Jacob Fulluck combination play lead to a great cross by Morris to Jordan Lloyd.
A Lloyd pass and shot by Zanos forces a great save by the Western Pride goalkeeper, the rebound hit the crossbar and fell to Fulluck who couldn’t capitalise. Josh Chumbley’s multiple last ditch challenges and efforts kept the score level at vital times in the game. Fulluck’s 2nd and 3rd efforts dribbling towards goal resulted in a shot and finish, doubling the lead, 2-0. Izaac Watson and Lloyd combined to launch a quick counter attack just before half time.
Substitution Cameron Nairn entered the game at the start of the second half for Fulluck. A break down the right from Zanos resulted in a Sean de Chastel long shot. Vieira and Zanos linked to allow a Lloyd long shot from outside which beat the Western Pride goalkeeper at his near post, 3-0. Nairn, Devitt and Lloyd combined to work multiple long shots. Lloyd and Nairn linked to work a shot at goal by Nairn, the rebound fell into Devitt’s path who finished; increasing Fire’s lead to 4-0. Devitt’s skills in midfield lead to a pass to Nairn out wide who beat his man and crossed to an unmarked Fulluck who finishes near post, 5-0.
Player of the Match: Josh Chumbley
Youth Women
Sunshine Coast Fire (1) v The Gap FC (0)
A close contest with only the one goal scored in the 29th minute by Jess Bender. The ball was won in midfield and passed up the left wing by Jodie to Madi Warren who made an excellent touch forward. Bender moved quickly to beat the defender and keeper to finish.
Frustration boiled over towards the end of the second half and a few yellow cards resulted.
Player of the Match: Madi Warren
