Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Fourteen
Bundaberg Spirit v Sunshine Coast Fire
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
After falling to their first loss of the season last week, the Sunshine Coast Fire were this week held to a frustrating 3-3 draw against the Bundaberg Spirit at Martens Oval.
The Fire did not do enough to secure the three points despite goals to Tyson Holmes, Chris Bacon and Ryan Delahunty, and have had their premiership lead cut to 10 points with 7 fixtures remaining.
The match kicked off with the Fire eager to repair their dented pride and play Bundaberg off the park. It took just ten minutes for an opening goal as Tyson Holmes netted on 18 yards, giving the Fire some early momentum against a Bundaberg side that is so often on the receiving end of a trouncing when the two sides meet.
But the Spirit hadn’t read the script this time, and found an equaliser on 19 minutes after a mazy run down the right flank by Ray Miller set up Brett Kitching for an easy goal.
Miller and Kitching combined again for the Spirit’s second goal on 29 minutes, and the Fire found themselves with a serious fight on their hands if they wanted to avoid two consecutive losses.
As the Fire became frustrated by missed opportunities and disallowed goals, a decision finally went their way when they earned a penalty on the brink of half time.
It was an excellent chance for the Fire to go into the sheds with scores level, but Spirit goalkeeper Jason McEwan read Shaun Blackman’s spot-kick well and made an important save to keep Bundaberg in the lead.
As was the case last week against the North Queensland Razorbacks, the Sunshine Coast came out after half-time full of running and looking likely to find an equaliser.
After a number of chances went begging, it came on 69 minutes when Blackman cut back from the byline and passed to Chris Bacon, who buried a shot from close range.
The Fire had plenty of fresh legs on the field, with Alex Henderson, Corey Towle and Ryan Delahunty brought on in the second half to replace Jonathan Rose, Aaron Brazendale and Shaun Blackman.
A third goal looked to be on the way and it came after 81 minutes, when Delahunty received a pass from Bacon and bundled the ball home for the Fire to go 3-2 up.
But after coming from behind once already, the Spirit weren’t about to lie down. They earned a corner seconds later, and Adam Ormsby found himself unmarked at the far post, drilling a header into the net and once again levelling the scores.
The Sunshine Coast were unable to rally for a fourth goal, and the match ended at 3-3 as the Fire dropped points for the second time in as many weeks.
It was a disappointing result for a Fire team desperate to bounce back, but captain Shaun Blackman gave credit to a Bundaberg side which is finding some much needed form.
“Bundaberg were a much improved side this time around, and we just didn’t capitalise on enough of our chances to win the match. Results seem to have fallen our way a few times this season, but the last couple of weeks haven’t quite worked out. As a team, there are certainly parts of our game we need to work on.”
The Fire will have to regroup quickly for Wednesday night, when they take on the A-League side Brisbane Roar in a friendly.
It will be the third time the teams have played one another, and Blackman said that some of the younger members of this year’s Fire team are really looking forward to the experience.
After the Roar match, the Fire will once again have a short preparation before taking on the FNQ Bulls on Sunday, but Blackman is unconcerned at the number of fixtures his team has scheduled.
“As a group, we learn more from playing games than we do from training – games give us a more realistic view of where we are at.”
The Brisbane Roar encounter kicks off at 7.15pm on Wednesday June 30, at One Mile Ovals in Gympie. The Fire’s next QSL match against the FNQ Bulls is on Sunday July 4, kicking off at 1pm at Stockland Park’s Western Fields.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 3 (Holmes 10’, Bacon 69’, Delahunty 81’)
Bundaberg Spirit – 3 (Kitching 19’, 29’, Ormsby, 82’)
