Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Seventeen
Sunshine Coast Fire v Capricorn Cougars
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
The Sunshine Coast Fire are now only a game away from the HQSL Premiership, after overcoming the Capricorn Cougars 2-0 in a spiteful Round 17 clash.
Goals either side of half-time from Yuta Gonai and Tyson Holmes secured the result and have set up a season-defining match with the second-placed Brisbane Strikers on Saturday night.
In a match where tempers flared for much of the 90 minutes, both sides had a player sent off in the second half, but it was the Fire who showed class and composure to prevail.
It was the Cougars who created most of the early pressure, as the opening minutes were played in the Fire’s defensive half. As the Fire felt their way into the game, they began to create some quality chances.
After breaking down the right wing, Aaron Brazendale beat Cougars keeper Tim English with a lob that looked destined to find the net, but a defender cleared the ball to safety. Soon after, Sam Knight rode a tackle on the right flank and hit an early cross towards Gonai, but English did well to punch the ball away.
The Fire were beginning to get the better of the contest, and were playing with plenty of intent as tackles came hard from both sides.
An accurate cross from Corey Towle on the left wing found Shaun Blackman metres out, who went close with a header. Next, a long ball from defence by Knight was flicked on by Josh Taylor, and fell to the advantage of Delahunty who beat English with a powerful volley, only to be called offside.
Capricorn nearly snatched the opening goal on 16 minutes, when the ball bounced awkwardly for Alex Henderson. Tristan Fraser pounced on the ball and moved in on goal, but Antony Hall rushed forward and forced Fraser to shoot wide.
It was becoming a hotly contested match, and defensive pressure was forcing errors from both sides. As half time came closer, Holmes had a go from distance after being left alone in the Cougar’s defensive half, missing narrowly from 25 yards.
The Cougars were looking to shoot on sight whenever possible, with both Fraser and Bryce Ruthven making Hall work with shots from distance.
On 37 minutes, the deadlock was broken and the Fire took a deserved 1-0 lead. Brazendale had moved down the right wing before passing to Blackman inside the penalty area. With his back to goal, Blackman laid a pass back to Gonai who smashed a shot towards the bottom corner – English got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it from finding the net.
The Cougars increased their efforts after conceding, and were causing problems for the Fire’s defence. As half-time came closer, Fergus McIntosh won possession in the middle of the park and beat several players as he moved into the penalty area, before being brought to ground by Sam Knight. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
After working hard to establish a lead, it seemed likely that the Fire would be heading for half-time with scores level as McIntosh stepped up to take the spot-kick.
McIntosh sent Hall the wrong way and found the net, but the referee had yet to blow his whistle and McIntosh had to take the shot again. The second time, Hall guessed correctly and got down well to make a fine save and maintain the Fire’s lead.
The Sunshine Coast continued to press after half-time, and Gonai almost had a second after beating English with a chipped shot that was cleared off the line by the last defender.
After being given a yellow card earlier in the match, Corey Towle was given a second yellow for what was deemed to be a late challenge and the Fire were reduced to 10 men. The decision means Towle will miss next week’s clash with the Strikers.
The Cougars fought to capitalise on the numerical advantage and poured forward, as McIntosh shot well wide from distance after 65 minutes.
With the Fire doing their best to defend in numbers, Delahunty was released on the break and sprinted in on goal one-on-one. Outside the penalty area, the chasing McIntosh brought Delahunty down from behind. There were protests as the referee only issued a yellow card to McIntosh in what seemed to be a challenge worthy of a straight red. Holmes went close from the free-kick, with English tipping his shot over the bar.
As full time got closer and the Fire defended the narrowest of advantages, the Cougars were also reduced to 10 men as David Thomas was shown red for a late tackle on Tyson Holmes.
It was Holmes who had the last laugh on 82 minutes, firing home the second goal and securing the win for the Sunshine Coast Fire. After an early cross from the right, Holmes found himself in space on the edge of the area and beat English with a clinical finish, guiding a half volley inside the far post.
The second goal broke the resistance of the Cougars and put the result beyond doubt, meaning the Fire are now only 90 minutes away from potentially securing their second HQSL Premiership.
Coach Aston Bell was relieved to come away victorious from the bruising encounter.
“When the game started to get hot, we showed our mettle and our nerve – we got a hold of the ball, got it down, and really put them to the sword. It was part of our game plan today to create opportunities and be ruthless with them, and to our credit, I don’t think we gave them a lot of opportunities.”
With the boys needing only a single point to clinch the Premiership, Fire fans won’t want to miss Saturday night’s clash with the Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park. Kick-off is at 7pm on Saturday, July 24.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 2 (Gonai, 37, Holmes, 82)
Capricorn Cougars – 0
