Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Twenty
North Queensland Razorbacks v Sunshine Coast Fire
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
After last week being crowned HQSL Premiers, the Sunshine Coast Fire have continued their rich vein of form by outclassing the North Queensland Razorbacks 4-2.
A first-half hat-trick from Shaun Blackman and a late sealer from Chris Bacon got the Fire over the line for their seventeenth win of the season, but the match wasn’t without its controversy.
Tyson Holmes was shown a red card after 25 minutes for allegedly showing dissent to the referee, forcing the Fire to play most of the match with ten men.
The match kicked off at Townsville’s Brolga Park, but it was the away side who had the early pressure as the Fire showed no signs of a premiership hangover and took control of the fixture. On 13 minutes, Shaun Blackman continued his fine scoring form by putting away his first goal of the match.
Midway through the first half, things took a turn for the worse for the Fire. A Razorbacks cross into the penalty area was adjudged to have been handled by a Fire player, and the referee pointed to the spot. Josh Searle stepped up and duly converted for North Queensland, levelling the scores at one apiece.
As the players prepared for the restart, the referee claimed to hear a comment of dissent from Tyson Holmes and issued him with a controversial red-card. The club is likely to appeal the decision in the hope that Holmes will be able to play against Bundaberg next weekend.
With the complexion of the game radically changed, the Sunshine Coast could be forgiven for relinquishing their hold on the contest – but that wasn’t the case, and the Fire fought back to create many of the better chances despite the disadvantage.
After 38 minutes, Blackman was released one-on-one and rolled a shot past the keeper to reinstate the Fire’s one goal lead. And on the stroke of half-time it was 3-1, after a cross from Aaron Brazendale found Blackman, who tapped home for his third of the evening.
The second half continued in the same manner, with the Fire holding possession strongly and remaining organised at the back. Midway through the second half, good work between Yuta Gonai and Brazendale set up Chris Bacon, who headed truly from close range for a 4-1 lead.
Although the Razorbacks hit back with a near-post header from Michael Coppo to make scores 4-2, the Fire ran out the match strongly to record a gutsy victory. The result sees the Fire’s competition lead stretched to ten points as the side continue to thrive in attack.
Captain Shaun Blackman said that his side recovered well from going a man down early, and didn’t play like a side reduced to ten men.
“Whenever we got possession of the ball, we held it well. Even with a player down, we had the better of them for most of the match,” Blackman said.
Elsewhere in the QSL, the Brisbane Strikers suffered a shock loss to the third-placed FNQ Bulls, in a match that showed the QSL championship is not just a two-horse race. The result snapped the Strikers’ winning streak, and may help the Fire’s confidence as the finals approach.
“It doesn’t affect the table at all, but psychologically it’s a little boost for us,” Blackman admitted.
Next week is the final fixture of the regular QSL season, as the Fire travel to Martens Oval to take on the Bundaberg Spirit. Kick-off for the Round 21 fixture is at 3pm on Sunday, August 15.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 4 (Blackman, 13, 38, 45, Bacon, 69)
NQ Razorbacks – 2 (Searle, 24 pen, Coppo, 75)
