Under 12 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (1) v Brisbane Strikers FC (2)
It was another top of the table clash between Fire and Strikers. An important game for Strikers, who needed to convert their games-in-hand into points on the ladder.
The game turned out to be a tough contest with both teams playing well throughout.
Fire was on top early and looking good. Hard working in BPO and applying pressure by keeping the ball much better than they did in the previous mid-week game.
Strikers scored first against the run of play; a ball over the top which Strikers raced on to. Fire GK came out and hesitated finding himself in no-man’s land, and the striker calmly finished by chipping the ball home. (0v1, 9 mins)
Fire responded well, dug in, continued to work hard and probe against a well-organised Brisbane outfit. When the equaliser came it was worth the wait. After a good attack down the right followed by a blocked shot, the ball fell to Jayden Emery outside the box. Emery controlled the ball, adjusted his body as the ball dropped before firing a spectacular volley which swerved and then dropped just underneath the bar into the top corner. Good technique and a special goal for Emery, following a good passage of team play. (1v1, 16 mins. Half-time)
Strikers drew first blood in the second half. A pass slipped through before being clipped past Fire’s GK – a good Strikers finish. (1v2, 32mins)
Swindles kept the Strikers winger contained and looked to play thoughtfully from the back. Strong performances from Rzoska and Emery in midfield kept Strikers at bay for the rest of the second half.
The rest of the half belonged to the Fire, with the majority of possession and rarely troubled at the back. Fire had plenty of chances but they were denied an equaliser by Strikers. Sunny Law was unlucky not to score after a powerful shot was blocked very well by the determined Strikers defence to end the game 1-2 to Strikers
Player of the Match: Sunny Law – a great performance. Never stopped all game, pressed at the right times demonstrating his 1v1 skills.
Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Brisbane Strikers FC (1)
*Not yet submitted
Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (1) v Brisbane Strikers FC (0)
After being defeated by Strikers in their previous two encounters, Fire knew they had to play with greater intensity and lift as a team to secure the three points.
After a full night of rain, the pitch was quite heavy and the ball was skimming quickly across the surface in warm-up. However, Fire was able to make the ball stick and completed some nice fluid passes in-game.
From the opening whistle, Fire dominated and played their own game, refusing to let Strikers dictate the tempo like in previous matches. The match was mainly battled in the midfield; Oli Williams along with Sean Bentley were brilliant in controlling and dominating the run of play.
With the wind at their backs, the Fire had several shots at goal in the first 20 minutes, but none found their mark. A bit of slipping and sliding eventuated the more the game went on, but Fire did well to stay on their feet and control the ball.
It wasn’t until the 30th minute that Fire was rewarded for their patience with the only goal of the match. A well-placed corner kick from Mackenar Bradfield landed for Joseph Higginson to have a shot, but the ball deflected and landed at the feet of Tom Whittaker for him to follow up and tap in. (1-0)
The rest of the first half saw both sides play some decent football, but the defensive lines worked hard to counter the opposition’s chances.
With Strikers’ State players still sitting on the bench until half time, Fire were prepared for a more challenging second half and would have to play a more direct game, especially playing into the wind.
Kaelan Debbage received a Yellow Card in the 36th minute for a harsh challenge and Daniel Cuttler in the 51st minute for a foul tackle as well.
After returning from an injury that would see him sidelined for 10 weeks, GK Nathan Foster would get the slightest fingertip to touch the ball over the back line in the 40th minute to deny Strikers’ first real chance in the game – much to the protests of the Strikers winger when the ball was returned for a goal kick.
Fire continued to test the Strikers’ defence and created some solid opportunities in the next 10 minutes. It could have been 2-0 to the Fire, but Strikers GK Tim Lahiff pulled off a great reaction save in the 47th minute when Budd Baublys headed the ball low and hard from a free kick.
Strikers never found their second gear and Fire kept dominating the game with some combination plays and kept the ball in the Strikers’ half.
Mackenar Bradfield would receive his first Yellow Card in the 68th minute, when he was subbed off the field and the referee hadn’t called the substitution on.
Player of the Match: Archie Waterson – who adjusted well to the change in style of play by anticipating turnover in possession and stuck to his tasks combining well and supporting the team when they pushed forward.
Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v Brisbane Strikers FC (0)
The field was soft from heavy overnight rain but the game kicked off under clear blue skies. With one win each for the season; Fire had the opportunity to finish with a second win over the competition leaders.
From the kick-off Fire went straight on the attack. From an attacking corner, the ball fell for James Beckman but his shot went over the bar from close range.
Questions were then asked of the Fire defence by the Strikers’ attack and Liam Burns had to repel successive attacks with timely tackles.
Abe Reeves on the right defence was also involved early and won the ball with a solid shoulder to shoulder tackle in one Strikers raid.
James Beckman and Sean Culpitt in the middle of defence were also working hard.
In the 22nd minute Abe Reeves made a strong run forward on the right using his pace to get in behind Strikers’ defence.
With the soft ground, the players were not as sure on their feet. Players who attempted quick turns often lost their footing.
The defences were working hard but not many clear chances were being created in front of goal.
In the 26th minute Jack Bowen won the ball on the right and found Josh Nisbet coming through the middle. Nisbet put Bowen in space with an early return ball but his shot went wide of the post.
The best chance of the half for the Fire came in the 35th minute when Jack Bowen put a ball in behind Strikers’ defence. The Strikers keeper came out too far and was stranded when his defender kneed the ball back over his keeper’s head toward the unguarded Strikers goal. Fire had to watch helplessly as the ball bounced agonisingly wide of the post for a corner.
Another chance came in the 39th minute when James Beckman floated a dangerous free kick high into the Strikers’ box where Liam Buns couldn’t get enough on a shot as the ball fell his way from a header and he stretched to meet the ball with his left foot and could only find the side netting.
The second half saw both defences again working hard with solid tackles from Sean Culpitt and the busy James Beckman.
In the 62nd minute Ollie Blackmore put Callum Jones away into space behind the Strikers’ defence and he was held back as he drove into the Strikers’ box. The referee’s assistants flagged for the offence but after consultation with the referee, he disappointingly awarded the Fire a corner instead of a penalty.
From the corner the ball found Nisbet at the top of the box but he couldn’t get a clear shot on goal through a crowded box.
Lively play from both teams went unrewarded and after a series of stoppages the momentum seemed to leave the game.
Fire had a scare in the 68th minute when a Strikers attacker turned his defender and was away on goal. Josh Wall came off his line well and went to ground to smother the ball and make a clean save at the feet of the attacker.
The defences were again called on to nullify any moves building into something more dangerous and a draw was looking more likely and was a fair result in the end. Fire earned their point today for effort if not execution.
Player of the Match: Abe Reeves
