Players congradulating Yuta after one of his goals.
Photo by Noel Woodall
Hyundai Queensland State League – Round 21
Bundaberg Spirit v Sunshine Coast Fire
Sunday, August 15 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
The Sunshine Coast Fire have finished their triumphant 2010 season on a high, by downing the Bundaberg Spirit 2-0 at Martens Oval on Sunday afternoon.
A second half brace from Yuta Gonai was enough to secure maximum points, in the team’s last competitive hit-out before clashing with the Brisbane Strikers in the Major Semi-Final on August 29.
With an eye towards the finals, Corey Towle and Alex Henderson were left out of the squad due to their accumulation of yellow cards. A further booking for either player would have resulted in suspension for the Semi-Final, so Jonathan Rose and James Stinson came into the side to fill the gap.
On a dry and dusty pitch in Bundaberg, it took time for both sides to hit their straps. Although the Fire were running with the wind in the first half, the slow pitch was making it difficult to maintain possession and create scoring chances.
Despite the Fire having the better of the opening exchanges, the Spirit contested strongly in what was to be their last match of the season, and created opportunities of their own.
With the match still scoreless at half-time, the Fire looked to increase their effort in the second stanza, and it didn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken by Yuta Gonai.
On 46 minutes, Gonai spotted Bundaberg keeper Jason McEwan off his line and beat him with an accurate shot from well outside the penalty area.
With the Fire finding themselves in the familiar position of leading the match, they pushed hard for a second, and it came on 57 minutes. After a strong move down the left, Gonai latched onto a ball in the penalty area and hit a low volley past McEwan to double the advantage.
The game began to open up following the second goal, and the play flowed from end to end. Bundaberg had chances to reduce the deficit through Laurie Stephenson and Shane Youngberry, but couldn’t find the net when it counted.
Substitute Andy Wood almost added a goal against his old club late in the game, but in the end the Fire settled for a 2-0 victory. After three consecutive victories, the Sunshine Coast will head into the finals campaign with confidence and winning form.
Coach Aston Bell was pleased with how well his side adapted to the difficult conditions.
“We really had to work hard for it, possession wasn’t easy on the dusty pitch, and Bundaberg were well up to the challenge – they had nothing to lose,” Bell said.
“We increased the intensity at half-time, and worked hard to win our eighteenth match of the season.”
In a game that mirrored the senior’s contest, the Under-19s also prevailed 2-0 over the Bundaberg Spirit with second-half goals from Ryan Delahunty and Nick Roth. With a second-placed season finish on the line, the Fire had to dig deep to come away with the three points, and will now face the Brisbane Strikers in a Major Semi-Final on August 29.
Bell paid tribute to the consistency and application of both teams in achieving the goal of finishing in the top two at season’s end.
“It has been a wonderful achievement for both sides to go as well as they have.”
With both sides being defeated by the Brisbane Strikers in Round 18, the Fire will be hoping to turn the tables against their old foes in the Major Semi-Final on August 29. The matches will be played at One Mile Ovals in Gympie, with the Under-19s kicking off at 12.30pm and the men at 3pm.
Sunshine Coast FC – 2 (Gonai, 46, 57)
Bundaberg Spirit – 0
Sunshine Coast FC U19 – 2 (Delahunty, Roth)
Bundaberg Spirit U19 – 0
