Hyundai Queensland State League – Round 10
Capricorn Cougars v Sunshine Coast Fire
After last week suffering a scare against the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Sunshine Coast Fire will be preparing for an ambush from the Capricorn Cougars in Round 10 of the Hyundai Queensland State League.
A goal in the 90th minute separated the Fire and QAS in Round 9, maintaining the Fire’s perfect start to the season and extending their competition lead to 10 points.
But with a target well and truly on the team’s back, every team wants to be the first to take the scalp of the runaway league leaders. Captain Shaun Blackman acknowledged that the Fire’s opponents seem to be rising to the occasion.
“Each week it’s getting harder, teams seem to be lifting when they play us. We just need to keep playing positive football and hope to get the results each week,” Blackman said after the QAS match.
The deciding goal on the weekend was scored off Blackman’s head, after the Fire had been reduced to ten men by a questionable handball decision. Even at a numerical disadvantage, Blackman knew his team had the attacking prowess to find a winner.
“I think as a team, we know we have a really good attacking side, and whenever we broke tonight I thought that a goal was a possibility.”
This weekend it will be the Capricorn Cougars hoping to negate the Fire, in a home fixture for the Rockhampton side.
The Cougars last week surrendered a 2-1 lead against the Whitsunday Miners, who eventually ran out 5-2 winners. Capricorn must prevent defensive leaks if they hope to secure a result against the Sunshine Coast.
In sixth place on the ladder with two wins, two draws and five losses, the Cougars haven’t had a win since Round 6 against QAS. The Fire last met the Cougars in Round 3, where the Sunshine Coast claimed a scrappy 4-2 victory.
In that match, the Fire ran out to a 4-0 lead, before conceding goals to Justin McMullen and Michael Cay in the space of three minutes.
These defensive lapses were common early in the season for the Fire, but seem to have been ironed out in recent fixtures as the defensive line-up has settled. The Cougar’s cannot expect to be gifted opportunities in this weekend’s fixture, and will need to play 90 minutes of consistent football to produce a result.
Kick-off for the match will be at 2pm on Sunday, May 30. The game will be played at Ryan Park, in Frenchville, Rockhampton.
