Under 12 boys
Sunshine Coast FC (2) v Olympic FC (4)
SCFC started well with intent and intensity from the kick off and this paid off as Fire took the lead in the 2nd minute. The Olympic defence played the ball back to the keeper who was pressured to make a rushed pass which Debbage intercepted before wrong-footing the GK into the corner. (0v1, 2 mins)
Olympic hit back straight away. This time Fire lost the ball around our own box, and the Olympic winger surged into the box before clinically firing high into the net with a powerful shot. (1v1, 4 mins)
Both teams played good football, and the Fire could easily have re-taken the lead on numerous occasions after quality moves. The Fire matched and at times out-played Olympic. We could have easily have gone into half time 1 or 2 up.
Late in the first half were the two critical minutes of the game. On 25 minutes Fire were out-muscled in a tackle, and the Olympic midfielder stepped forward before a quality strike which flew into the net. (2v1, 25 mins)
One minute later a poor pass whilst playing out left Olympic with a simple opportunity. Salih made a great save but the rebound was dispatched easily. (3v1, 26 mins. Half time)
The boys were disappointed to come in at half time 3v1 down after a good first half display, but mistakes are punished in NPL and those 2 minutes turned out to be the key minutes of the match.
Second half was a tiring and good quality performance with both teams playing good possession football whilst under pressure. Olympic continued to look dangerous coming forward and the defence coped well.
There were good performances all over the park, particularly in midfield where Camm and Emery played very well. Williams battled through an injured knee and delivered a good attacking full back display.
Up front Petcos worked tirelessly and Patterson looked dangerous. One move of note, saw a ball played square into Patterson, whose first touch saw him glide past two defenders. His shot was well saved, but the movement and first touch were good to see.
Olympic grabbed their 4th on 39 – their turn to intercept a pass from the GK before finishing well. (4v1, 39 minutes)
Fire continued to work hard, despite the up-hill task. Still they managed to string good passages of play. Their attitude was great. That never give up attitude will serve them well.
A late strike proved to be a consolation. Emery with a good driving run, beating a player before unleashing a low hard drive into the bottom right corner. Excellent technique. (4v2, 58 mins. Full time.)
I know the boys were disappointed to lose, but it’s important that we all help them see the bigger picture and what’s important, and that is their development as players and people. And that is there….they are improving and learning all the time.
We played a good team and played good football, and whilst a few mistakes were punished, the boys can feel pleased with their efforts.
Player of the Match: Alex Patterson. Movement off the ball and work-rate were excellent. Unlucky not to score, but the effort and technique meant a quality performance from the captain for the day. Well done Alex.
Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (6) v Olympic FC (2) – Round 4
The first game tested the Sunshine Coast Fire against one of the big three Brisbane teams with the Sunshine Coast Fire U13 Boys delivering their best performance of the season so far.
The team was on their game from the first minute pressing the Olympic team in every area on the pitch. This resulted in three quick goals in 13 minutes from Sam Aitkin (2) and Jack Beardsley putting the game out of reach for a bewildered Olympic.
Harry Arnison recovered the ball in midfield and then after some sharp passing with Callum Pearce on the right wing the ball was played into Jack Beardsley. Jack split the Olympic defence on the edge of the box with a pass to Sam Aitkin, who coolly finished by driving the ball into the bottom left hand corner. (10th minute)
The ball was laid back to Harry Arnison just outside the 18 yard box who fired a powerful shot over the keeper only to see it hit the foot of the post. Sam Aitkin was first to react to knock in the rebound to take the spoils. (12th minute)
After battling to win the ball on the edge of the box Jack Beardsley side stepped the defence into the box and fired his shot high into the net. (13th minute)
The Fire team continued to dominate the first half through the centre of the park creating wave after wave of attacking football and ultimately chances. In the 30th minute Jack Beardsley received the ball in the box and after a touch to the right drove the ball low into the bottom right hand corner.
Olympic competed stronger in the second half and scored two goals against a Fire team taking their foot off the pedal.
The response by the Fire boys was superb with the team varying their game, lifting their tempo, and opening up the Olympic defence by playing wider. The result, two more goals to the Fire:
Harry Arnison opened the play up by spreading the ball out wide to Callum Pearce. Callum attacked the space on the right wing, then cut inside, only to see his first shot blocked. Recovering the ball Callum on the edge of the box made sure his second attempt finished in the bottom right corner of the goal. (66th minute).
In the 69th minute Luke Varga collected the ball on the left outside the 18 yard area and drove past two players into the box before sliding the ball pass the keeper into the right corner of the goal.
6-2 final score to the Fire.
Player of the Match: Ewan Gordon – a solid game in defence with good distribution to the midfield. Also some great wing play added to the attacking play of the team. A great start to Ewan’s first season in the NPL.
Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (4) v Olympic FC (1)
Olympic are always a well-structured team and with a few State players in their line up the contest was always going to be a test on the Fire to keep their shape and work as a team.
From the beginning of the game, Fire was caught on the back foot in the 1st minute with a shot at goal and a drop save was made by GK Nathan Foster.
In the 7th minute an unfortunate Yellow card was awarded against Harry Fletcher for a foul and a free kick was awarded. Off of this kick, Olympic were able to get in the six yard box and a shot was made at goal, which deflected off Owen Brader’s foot for an own goal. (0-1)
Olympic broke through Fire’s defence and GK Nathan Foster was forced into a great collapse save which was palmed off to the right. Olympic were playing well and opening up the midfield to press on the Fire defence. The 17th minute saw Olympic player, Thanasi Kalatzis receive a Yellow card for kicking the ball away. With another attacking run and an uncleared ball in the 18th minute, a shot was taken by Olympic, but it deflected off GK Nathan Foster’s leg and then he scrambled to make a smother save.
A drinks break at the 20th minute, allowed some adjustments to be made in the Fire defence. A few shots were made by the Fire forwards at goal, but Olympics GK saved all comfortably.
It was just before half time that a well-placed curling ball was fed from Mackenar Bradfield for Daniel Cuttler to finish off with his left foot and into the goal. (1-1)
With a few strategy changes made in the second half, it only took Daniel Cuttler 30 seconds to receive a chipped ball from Oli Williams to complete a unicycle kick (not quite a full bicycle) and slot the ball into the net. (2-1)
This lifted the Fire and the team played with better intensity in the second half. Joseph Higginson and Oli Williams were making some great plays in the midfield and Daniel Rouillard was solid in defence.
This led to a through ball from Kaelan Debbage to Daniel Cuttler in the 45th minute. Cuttler ran the ball on a sharp angle, drawing Olympics GK out of his box and this allowed Cuttler to get around him and walk the ball into the back of the net. (3-1)
Another drinks break in the 50th minute, gave Fire the energy to lift and play some nice football. Pressure was taken off of the defence, as Fire starting to dominate the play. GK Kurt Moore-Barnard made some comfortable saves.
However, a Yellow card was given to Tom Whittaker in the 55th minute for a tackle from behind.
It was only two minutes later, that Daniel Cuttler was taken down in the box and a Penalty kick was awarded. Kaelan Debbage stepped up to take the kick and secured the 4th goal by driving it into the bottom left of the goal. (4-1)
Oli Williams took a free kick in the 59th minute, when Daniel Cuttler was tackled again, but the keeper saved this comfortably.
Desperate to shut down Olympics attacking runs, Sean Bentley was given a Yellow card in the 66 minute for holding onto an Olympic players shirt.
Listening to the coach, nice teamwork and pressure on Olympics defence ensured the win as the full time whistle blew and finalised the score at 4-1.
Player of the Match: Oliver Williams
Under 15 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (4) v Olympic FC (0) – Round 4
A couple of early chances saw Mitch Bridge have a goal short hit the post and Brayden Huston shoot wide after some good team play.
Fire took the lead in the 17th minute of play after some good lead up play as Terone Wattedegara found Kurtis Modlin who crossed the ball to Mitchell Bridge in space who volleyed the ball into the far corner to score.
In the 24th minute a well worked free kick saw the Olympic keeper save well from Terone Wattedegara.
At half time the Fire led 1-0 and were dominating the match..
Into the second half and the boys really well worked the goal, as Tyson Williams laid the ball off to Max Foottit, who played a great through pass which found Kurtis Modlin which enabled him to finish well into the bottom corner of the goal in the 43rd minute.
Max Footitt went into the book in the 44th minute after what was deemed a lunging tackle. Lachlan Bosworth in the Fire goal then made a good save diving to his left to parry the ball away from one of Olympic’s rare chances.
In the 48th minute Kurtis scored again from another ball in behind, after outpacing his defenders and finishing 1v1.
Substitute keeper David Payne then saw off Olympic’s best chance for the match with a great double save in the 73rd minute, followed by a quick throw from David to set up Kurtis Modlin’s nexdt goal.
Kurtis once again broke through the Olympic defence after a great throw from David Payne in goal. His shot was parried and Tyson Williams calmly finished the rebound in the 75th minute to bring the final score to 4-0.
Player of the Match : Mitchell Bridge
Under 15 Girls
Sunshine Coast FC (1) v Western Pride (2)
The Fire girls started this game slowly and looked scared, were not tackling and making weak passes.
An early goal by Western Pride precipitated a change, putting Sara Walker at the back and bringing Brianna Hopa up to the midfield which significantly strengthened our defence. Players also picked up play and Fire had more possession and chances on goal as the first half progressed.
The second half saw the girls playing well, generating a lot of possession and through balls to centre forward and wings which resulted in Jane Uebergang beating the defence and scoring a goal.
The girls continued to battle and it looked like they could score again for the win but a breakdown defensively and missed clearance resulted in a goal for Western Pride.
A lack of subs and fatigue probably hurt us but the girls continued to battle until the end, although were not able to score.
Player of the Match : Sara Walker
Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast FC (1) v Olympic FC (3) – Round 4
The game kicked off at midday in hot and humid conditions, with little breeze. It was the first competition game of the season between two teams who had become keen rivals in the previous year with Fire winning two out of the three competition games played in 2014.
Fire lost possession from the kick off and gave away an early free kick as Olympic pressed forward. Under pressure from the free kick, Fire did not clear the danger. Olympic came in on a second attack with an Olympic attacker getting in behind the Fire’s defence to score in the 2nd minute, with a good low shot inside the post.
Fire were struggling to get into the game and in the 5th minute, an Olympic attacker again found space in behind the Fire defence but Josh Wall advanced quickly off his goal line to smother the attack in a 1v1 situation.
Fire were trying to work their way into the game and had a free kick saved and should have scored a minute later when a shot went over the bar from the close range with an open goal begging.
Olympic were unlucky not to go further ahead in the 10th minute when a strong shot cannoned off the crossbar into the back of a diving Josh Wall and the Fire defence was able to scramble the ball away.
After 15 minutes, James Beckman came off the bench to bolster the Fire defence and to test his knee injured in the previous week’s game.
In the hot conditions, a drinks break was taken after 20 minutes after which Fire came out with renewed enthusiasm. However after 32 minutes the Olympic first goal scorer was unchallenged at the top of the penalty box and earned himself a brace with a great strike on goal. It seemed a cruel twist as Fire were working hard for little reward for their efforts and found themselves down 0-2 at half time.
After words of advice from the coaches, Fire had a much better second half. They were rewarded in the 54th minute from a free kick inside the attacking half. James Beckman found Jack Bowen in space on the right of the penalty box in behind the Olympic defence and Jack’s first time square ball found Kobe Fuller with a late run into the box. Kobe swept the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Fire were back in the game and continued to put the Olympic goal under pressure but were unable to find the elusive equaliser.
In the final cruel twist of the day after sustained pressure going forward by the Fire, in the 75th minute Olympic mounted a counter attack and the stretched Fire defence scrambled to get back. The Fire defender in a foot race with the Olympic attacker toward the Fire goal was able to get a tackle in to clear the ball but the guile of the Olympic attacker in staying on the ground was able to convince the referee to give a penalty and stretch the score to 3-1.
For the remaining time the Fire boys laboured without reward and the final score reflected a frustrating day out for the Fire.
First bragging rights for this year went to Olympic.
Player of the match was James Beckman.
