Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (5) v Moreton Bay United FC (2)
A straight forward fixture for the top of the table Sunshine Coast Fire against second bottom Moreton Bay Jets. Sunshine Coast Fire started poorly against a lively Moreton Bay Jets, who had turned up to compete in all areas of the pitch. Within three minutes Moreton Bay were rewarded with an early goal when they easily moved the ball up field unchallenged from their own box to Fire’s penalty area.
The ball was then played into Kye Gifford, who lifted the ball past the stationery Fire keeper. The Fire just couldn’t settle into the game and were easily second best giving away possession and not competing for the first and second ball in tackles. Their problems went from bad to worse when Jack Beardsley unfortunately handled as the ball bounced up off an unforgiving pitch from a corner swung in from the right, resulting in a penalty. Joshua Hong stepped up to send the Fire keeper the wrong way. Two nil to the Jets. The game could have been put out of reach further when Moreton Bay had the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be harshly judged to be ruled offside. Then the Jests saw a free-kick slam against the Fire crossbar. After these two lucky escapes, the Fire finally woke up and on 27 minutes a free-kick driven into the Moreton Bay penalty box by Brodie Boyce was taken on the chest by Harry Arnison past a defender. Arnison then hit an angled shot on the half-volley across the Jets goal past the diving keeper into the left-hand corner. Two minutes later the Fire drew level when a searching ball was played into the edge of the box to Jack Beardsley, who laid the ball back to Harry Arnison. Arnison’s powerful long range shot was too good for the Jet’s keeper flying into the top corner, evening the score at 2-2. The half wasn’t over yet and right on the half time whistle a great corner by Luke Varga was headed against the post by Brodie Boyce. However, Boyce was first to react and smashed in the rebound to complete Fire’s recovery from two nil down.
The second half was a different story with the Sunshine Coast Fire playing with a renewed confidence, competing for every ball and creating several chances. Callum Pearce and Brok Ross were unlucky not to score with excellent efforts. Eventually, Fire’s pressure paid off when on 57 minutes another great corner delivered by Luke Varga was met by Harry Arnison, who powered his header past the stranded keeper to complete his hat trick. The game was put out of reach for Moreton Bay two minutes later when Harry Arnison’s accurately driven free-kick flew through the Jet’s defence and past the outstretched keeper.
Player of the Match: Harry Arnison – great Captain’s performance leading from the front with strong, aggressive football.
Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Moreton Bay United FC (3)
With several players absent, injured and unwell, this fixture was always going to be a challenge against an inform Moreton Bay team.
After a decisive 4-0 defeat in their last encounter, Moreton Bay stepped up and was keen to make amends. Moreton Bay were pressing high and putting a lot of pressure on the Fire defence but the Fire was also making it difficult for them to play-out. The first 10 minutes saw the ball going back and forth between the teams, with neither side creating opportunities and possession was fairly even.
However, it would be Moreton Bay to open the scoring in the 12th minute. A well-placed ball was crossed into the box to find unmarked player Billy Haynes ready to head the ball in. (0-1)
Morton Bay’s GK Tom Ray made a great drop save in the 19th minute after a cracking strike from Owen Brader, but then Brader received a Yellow Card for a foul tackle in the 23rd minute. Joseph Higginson was working hard in defence and showed great tenacity throughout the game.
Moreton Bay was completing their passes well and had great intensity when on the ball. Fire on the other hand weren’t playing with their usual gusto and this resulted in them getting bogged down in the midfield and giving up possession way too easily.
Possession was turned over by the Fire in the 29th minute and Billy Haynes was again left to run and carve up the midfield and drive the ball into the top left of goal. (0-2)
Substitute U13 player Harry Arnison came on in the 31st minute and placed some nice through balls from the midfield and shadow players Levi Gamble and Kai Beckman did well in creating opportunities.
Fire had a stroke of luck when Moreton Bay’s Billy Haynes was ruled offside after slipping through Fire’s defence and scoring just before halftime.
Moreton Bay’s midfield was working well and a through ball to Billy Haynes in the 38th minute saw him have a 1v1 with GK Kurt Moore-Barnard. Haynes took a touch, went around the advancing Fire keeper and placed the ball easily into goal. (0-3)
Budd Baublys was subbed back on and immediately made an impact with great pace and chasing of the ball. Owen Brader also showed his intent in the 49th minute by tracking a player up the midfield and finally holding him up on the right wing.
Oli Williams was awarded a Yellow Card in the 58th minute for questioning a referee decision. Fire finally found some grit and determination and lifted over the next 10 minutes.
Mackenar Bradfield crossed in a superb ball from a corner in the 60th minute to find Joseph Higginson lurking at the back post ready to head the ball into goal. (1-3)
After battling to win the ball in the 62nd minute, Daniel Cuttler had a great opportunity to score but the ball ran across the face of goal. Budd Baublys also made some intense runs to outpace the Moreton Bay defence but unfortunately he put the shots wide.
After a foul tackle in the 65th minute, Owen Brader delivered a perfectly placed ball from a free kick into the box and Daniel Cuttler rose above to head the ball into goal. (2-3)
Fire was scrambling in the last 5 minutes to find an equaliser and some great opportunities were created, however another goal would remain elusive.
Player of the Match: Joseph Higginson
Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (5) v Moreton Bay United FC (1)
This was the third time these teams had met this season. Fire scored a late equaliser in the first game to snatch a point and hung on to claim the second 2-1. Fire were expecting Moreton Bay to be keen to get a win and Fire were still hurting from back to back losses leading in to this game.
On a very warm winter’s morning, Fire kicked off and, after a few nervous early touches, settled quickly as a sign they were ready to play. This positive mindset reaped an early reward for the Fire when in the 4th minute Callum Jones and Addi Brader combined well and from the return ball Callum Jones found Jack Bowen in space. Jack stroked the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
The early goal seemed to ignite something missing from the previous game for the Fire and they moved the ball more quickly than last week and had restored confidence.
Despite this in the 7th minute a clear sight of the Fire goal by a Moreton Bay attacker through a congested penalty area drew a sharp save by Josh Wall diving low to his right as he pushed it away for a corner. The Fire went immediately on the attack from the corner and forced a corner at the Moreton Bay end.
For the next few minutes Fire were able to put pressure on the Moreton Bay defence and won consecutive corners from saves from a shot from Matt Cann and a header from Jack Bowen.
Josh Nisbet, Addi Brader and Ollie Blackmore were combining well in the midfield. In the 13th minute a free kick on the right from Callum Jones found the head of Josh Nisbet as he made a well-timed run into the box toward the near post. To the delight of all at Fire Josh made no mistake as he steered the ball into the net to make it 2-0.
In the 22nd minute Josh Nisbet won a free kick on the left within striking distance as he drove forward at the Moreton Bay defence. Callum Jones placed the free kick at a badly organised wall which disintegrated as the ball passed through and inside the near post into the net to make it 3-0.
The Fire passing game was on today and they were well on top in the game, although the Fire defence marshalled by James Beckman and Sean Culpitt in central defence were able to deal with a number of potential threats from Moreton Bay.
In the 37th minute Fire were rewarded for their sustained pressure when a poor kick out from the Moreton Bay keeper came to Jack Bowen who controlled the ball well, dribbled at the defence and put a clinical finish inside the near post for his brace and 4-0 to the Fire.
There was no further score before half time and it was important that Fire came out strongly in the second half to consolidate on a good first half. Fortunately Fire started the second half in the same mood as they displayed in the first. Kobe Fuller had a chance to score early but bounced his shot off a car parked on the access road behind the goal. Hopefully the owner did not require a trip to the panel beaters.
In the 44th minute Aiden Wall took on the Moreton Bay defence on the left and drove a diagonal ball to Callum Jones on the right wing, who in turn crossed back to the centre. A poor defensive clearance fell to Addi Brader hovering just inside the box. He took it on his chest and hit the dropping ball into the net to make it 5-0 to the Fire.
That goal took the game away from Moreton Bay but despite the score Fire became a little scrappy for the next five minutes.
Fire were slowly getting their passing game going again and playing their way back on top. In the 62nd minute however, a bad back pass from the Fire went straight to a Moreton Bay attacker. Josh Wall quickly came of his line to create a 1v1 and put enough pressure on the attacker to cramp the shot. The shot had enough momentum to beat Josh Wall but not enough to carry directly into the goal. Sean Culpitt was covering back and cleared the goal-bound rolling ball to safety.
For the rest of the game it was a series of near misses for the Fire in front of goal as Matt Cann fired over the bar and James Beckman up from defence, headed over the bar from a cross from Callum Jones.
As both teams were tiring in the heat, Fire failed to deal effectively with a ball played down the left side and a scrappy passage of play saw the Moreton Bay attacker pounce on the ball to score in the 76th minute, to make it 5-1 and prevent a Fire clean sheet.
Players of the Match: Addi Brader and Matt Cann.
Under 18 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (3) v Moreton Bay United FC (1)
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