Under 18 Girls:
Sunshine Coast Fire defeated SWQ Thunder 3-0
Goal scorers: Samara Christmas (2), Phelps.
Coach Francis Lynch said the scrappy start to the game did not suit the style of football the Fire was accustomed to. However the back line played out with confidence on the left flank to release Mia Radda who turned her marker inside out and cut into the 18-yard box to cross for the offence line. Unable to finish off the move, Radda continued to lose her marker, cutting into the byline to square the ball into the six-yard box for Summer McGladrigan to lay into Samara Christmas. Christmas then placed a neat pass into the SWQ goal – 1-0 to the Fire.
SWQ continued with a high-line, pressing our defence to force turn over but goal keeper Grace Wilkins stopped shots on target.
Keira Burgess then dropped a beautiful switch-ball behind an advancing SWQ backline. Christmas beat the offside trap once again to finish with composure past an outstretched SWQ goal keeper.
The second-half saw SWQ attack the Fire’s goal with numbers, however a reshuffled backline of Els van Hooijdonk, Mia Radda and Lucy Froud stayed strong. They quickly released Isobel on the left flank and some clever play from Moore and Glackin allowed Amy McGlynn a long-range shot, which dipped behind the goal keeper but hit the cross bar. The defence line then overlapped to support the offence line and Madi Phelps continued an overlapping run to place a quality finish in the SWQ goal.
“The girls put in a great effort ahead of a big match against Redlands at Stockland Stadium next weekend,” Lynch said.
Under 18 Boys:
Sunshine Coast FC defeated Moreton Bay Jets 1-0.
Goal scorer: Aiden Little
Coach Paul Arnison said the Fire played a scrappy game against a physical and enthusiastic Jets team.
The first-half was messy on a bobbly pitch, however the Fire stayed solid at the back preventing goal-scoring opportunities for the Jets. There were few opportunities for the Fire either, apart from Corey Dodson’s shot which sailed past the post.
Arnison said the second-half was much better for the Fire.
“Our play was good at times; we controlled most of the game and Grant de Chastel and Steve Lawrance outstanding throughout,” he said.
The Fire eventually scored the winning goal through Aiden Little’s shot just inside the box.
“All in all I was very happy and proud of the boys’ battling performance and it was great to have another clean sheet with the work of the back four and goal keeper Damien Cox.”
Under 16 Boys:
Assistant Coach Jarrod Rodios said the Fire boys were desperate to turn things around for the second-half of the NPL season, as they prepared to take on top-of-the-table Moreton Bay Jets.
The Fire started the game strongly with long spells of possession. They displayed some great one-touch link-up play and moved the ball around the field, creating numerous chances.
Moreton Bay used their long-ball counter-attack to their pacey front three whenever they got the chance. The Fire back four of Glenn Morris, Blake Huston, Cody Barmentloo and Nik Taylor didwell to shut Moreton Bay out.
The Fire boys played some of their best football of the year and a goal looked inevitable. It was striker Jordy Lloyd, tactically moved to the left wing for the game, who opened the scoring with a drive from 25 metres out.
Soon afterwards an attack which started down the right side continued with some quick touches before the ball landed at the feet of Max Adey. He turned and sent the ball flying into top the corner from outside the 18-yard box.
The Fire looked strong all over the field but Moreton Bay’s constant through-balls and extremely fast front three proved a threat. A low cross from the right winger found a Jets player on the other side of the box only a few meters out from goal. He struck the ball with venom and Fire goal keeper Francis Wynn, who was diving the other way, pulled off an excellent reflex save tipping the ball just over the bar.
A Fire error left the Jets with one more chance before the half-time whistle. A Jets player found himself in free space on the edge of the box and hit a volley into the top-hand corner. Wynn managed to get a hand to it but couldn’t keep the ball out.
Fatigue kicked in during the second-half as both teams fought hard for the win. Not long into the half the Jets levelled the scoring again using the pace of their striker. He let the ball roll past him before using his lighting pace to reach it and calmly slot a shot into the bottom corner of the Fire’s goal.
The scores were levelled and the Fire was in a familiar position having given up a steady lead again. Both teams created chances and luck finally favoured the Fire as a good attack allowed left-winger Matt Forde to strike the ball low into the jets net between the goal keeper’s legs.
The Fire took the lead and was determined to hang on until the final whistle. The full-time score was 3-2 to the Fire.
After the match the Jets head coach said the first half display from the Fire was the best football he had seen all year for the Under 16 age group.
Rodios said it was great to win against first-placed Moreton Bay Jets away from home.
“It will hopefully be the turning point in the boys season,” Rodios said.
Under 15 Boys:
Sunshine Coast Fire lost to Moreton Bay 1-4.
Goal scorer: Cameron Nairn
The Fire had their first loss for the season against Moreton Bay Jets at Wolter Park.
Assistant coach John Whiting said the game started at a high tempo, with both teams holding possession and looking to play fast-paced football along the ground.
In the 14th minute, Moreton Bay’s winger gained the ball in the box and scored the first goal of the game.
The Fire’s Kalib Hough came close to an equalizer just three minutes later however his long-shot attempt narrowly sailed over the top corner.
In the 23rd minute, Moreton Bay was awarded a penalty and slotted it into the bottom corner. Moreton Bay continued to have the majority of possession and twelve minutes later a Moreton Bay central midfielder headed the ball in off a corner for their third goal.
The Fire started the second-half determined to make a comeback. However, as is the danger with placing players forward, the Fire conceded in the 65th minute from a counter-attack.
Just a few minutes later the Fire scored its first as Cameron Nairn placed the ball into the roof of the net.
The full time score was 4-1 in Moreton Bay’s favour, after a tough game.
“The Fire fought the whole game and did not give up,” Whiting said.
“The boys created chances and played good football, despite having some referee decisions not going their way.”
Under 14 Girls:
Sunshine Coast FC defeated The Gap/Brisbane City 5-3.
Goal scorers: Lisa van Hooijdonk (3), Michelle le Roux and Melissa Taft.
The Fire got out of jail with two goals in the last four minutes to keep them top of the league. The girls battled well with a bare 11 as four players were away at Queensland trials or injured.
Coach Tom White said Lisa van Hooijdonk was superb in getting a hat trick, however a stand out performance from Kirra Guy was the real difference between both sides.
“Kirra was asked to do a specific job in the midfield and she did her job fantastically. Her combined work ethic with Tayla Gesch was very good and her composure on the ball was of a different class. Kirra has come on leaps and bounds and I think her performance shows what a great, well-respected footballer she is.”
“Also young Melissa Taft and Teena Hartwig deserve great credit for their best games this year. The girls were put under pressure and managed to come out on top. Although we had some good individual performances, this overall performance shows we have a lot more to learn as a team.”
Under 14 Boys:
Sunshine Coast Fire defeated Moreton Bay Jets 1-3.
Goal scorers: Ty Dawson (2), Mason Bell.
Coach Ben Cahn said it had been five weeks since the Fire’s last win.
“Two losses against Brisbane Strikers and South West Queensland, followed by two games postponed due to wet weather, had the boys determined to bounce back and deliver a good performance,” he said.
The first few minutes of the game were frantic with neither side settling. Both teams looked to play forward at every opportunity. Fifteen minutes in the Fire started to take control with the introduction of a composed Mason Bell.
A Moreton Bay backline error allowed Ty Dawson to pounce and finish first-time with a terrific chip over Tom Anderson in the Moreton Bay goal.
The Fire boys saw out the remainder of the half in complete control. They dominated possession and looked comfortable at the back.
The Fire continued to control the game into the second-half. Without looking threatening the Fire kept the ball well and didn’t give Moreton Bay much to get excited about.
With a goal advantage and 20 minutes to go, goal keeper Marcus Worthington, who was exceptional all morning, miss kicked a diagonal ball to Jae Warren at left back. The pass was intercepted and a long shot ended up in the bottom corner to level the score.
Cahn said this was the kick-start his team needed; the speed of passing and movement increased and the Fire almost instantly started to produce some excellent combinations in the final third.
It wasn’t long before great link up play between Jez Lofthouse and Josh Nisbet down the left-hand side allowed Ty Dawson to place the ball into the bottom right-hand corner for his second of the morning.
The Fire again regained control of the game, this time maintaining a high tempo and producing numerous combinations in the final third.
Taj Hudson and Reis Hanton combined exceptionally well for most of the game down the right-hand side. Hudson held the ball up well and received it in some great positions, while Hanton overlapped to cause problems for the Moreton Bay backline.
Mason Bell grabbed the third goal to seal the points for the Fire. He was involved in the move early on near the half way line. Bell continued his run to get on the end of some tidy, creative work on the edge of the box from captain Nisbet and slide home to cap off an excellent all round performance.
Cahn congratulated the boys after what he described as a ‘frustrating few weeks’.
“After a dip in form, all we wanted to do is get back and raise the level of our performance but the weather has prevented that,” he said.
“The boys’ effort at training on Friday was incredible and it paid off. It was a solid defensive display and mature performance to control the game as well as we did. They learned a good lesson that at 1-0, even if you have control you have of the game, you are only ever a mistake away from going level. But their attitude and ability to raise the tempo and quality of the performance was great. Now we have to try to build on that level of performance for the coming weeks.”
Under 13 Boys:
Sunshine Coast Fire defeated Moreton Bay Jets 1-0
Goal scorer: Jesse Gibbs
Coach Alex Barlow said after three weeks without a game the Fire was ready for a hard-fought match against local rivals Moreton Bay.
As usual the Fire looked to dominate and control the game from the start, pressing the Jets back into their own half. Good combination work from the Fire’s midfield made it hard for the Jets to keep up, opening up spaces for striker Jesse Gibbs to cause havoc.
“Our main goal was to keep a clean sheet, as I knew we were capable of scoring goals,” Barlow said.
“The back four, led by Max Footit, knew they needed to be strong.”
“The standard of playing-out today was impressive, everything was into feet and the support play made it a lot easier to keep possession.”
The Fire had a number of chances in the first-half, the main one falling to Fire captain Mitch Bridge who hit a half-volley straight at the Jets goal keeper from 12 yards.
A change in personnel at half time allowed a few players to have a breather before returning later on.
The Fire continued its dominance in the second-half as the players kept the press nice and high but failed to convert chances into goals.
Things nearly changed for the worse after a rushed clearance from the Jets allowed their striker to break through on goal, however the Fire were relieved to see his shot it hit the underside of the bar and bounce back in-field.
With 10 minutes to go Mitch Bridge and Taj Suffolk returned to the field. The two subs combined well as Bridge won the ball in midfield and played the ball to Suffolk. He beat his defender and chipped a ball over the top for the Fire’s top scorer Jesse Gibbs to run on to. A composed Gibbs took the ball around the advancing jets goal keeper and slotted the ball into an empty net with his left foot.
“I was very proud of the boys, they received the rewards they deserved,” Barlow said.
“They didn’t stop working for each other that is what needs to be done to win games.”
Photos: Under 14 Girls v The Gap
