Hyandai Queensland State Youth League – Round 5
Sunshine Coast Fire U19 vs. South West Queensland U19
Sunday April 25, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
After two disappointing defeats, the Sunshine Coast Fire have bounced back with a 5-0 drubbing of South West Queensland in Round 5 of the Queensland State Youth League.
A brace from Ryan Delahunty, plus goals from Kaine Frew, Brad Wallace and Nick Roth were enough for the Fire to record their third win from five matches.
On a soggy pitch that had been damaged further by the studs of the seniors earlier in the afternoon, the Sunshine Coast were dominant from the opening whistle. Frew scored from close range on the right side of the box in one of the team’s first attacks.
He was involved again minutes later, playing a neat one-two with James Verdin before the last defender hacked the ball to safety.
The score was 2-0 before long, after a pinpoint cross to the far post found Brad Wallace, who squeezed a neat shot inside the post to double the Fire’s advantage.
The visitors were hardly given an opportunity, although Ben Gregory volleyed high from long range midway through the first half, with keeper Sam Nickolls watching the ball all the way.
The Fire were granted a good chance to go 3-0 up early after Nick Roth was brought down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. The keeper stood still as Delahunty blasted the spot-kick into the crossbar, with the ball rebounding so far that it almost created a counter-attacking chance for South West Queensland.
At the other end, Nickolls showed great awareness to punch away a cross that almost found a SWQ player unmarked.
As the half drew to a close, Delahunty atoned for his penalty miss with the Fire’s third goal. After a serious call for a free-kick was ignored 20 yards out, Delahunty gathered the loose ball and dribbled into the penalty area, hitting a fine shot with his left foot that the keeper couldn’t get near.
As they maintained a commanding lead, the Fire were working well as a unit. Rhys Roberts and Matthew Bevan combined well in central defence, with Roberts breaking down a play with a classy slide tackle at the end of the first half. Flanked well by James Cooper and Joe McMahon, SWQ could barely get a sniff at goal.
When the second half kicked off, the pitch was becoming a quagmire, with the ball barely running at all. The Fire persevered with passing to feet and holding the ball. After good work from Josh Taylor in midfield, substitute Cohen Bell headed toward goal but the keeper was up to the challenge.
The second half wore on, with both teams finding it hard to keep their challenges clean, and players going to ground frequently. Nick Roth earned his second penalty of the night after being brought down in the area, and this time stepped up to take the shot himself. He coolly slotted the ball into the right corner to give the Fire a 4-0 lead.
Roth was again involved in the closing minutes, finding Delahunty at the far post who scored the goal of the match with a flying header into the top corner.
The whistle blew for full time with the Fire claiming a comfortable 5-0 victory, and an important confidence boost after two disappointing defeats.
The team have a bye next week, but will be in action again in a fortnight’s time when they take on Bundaberg at One Mile Oval in Gympie. Kickoff is at 2pm on May 9.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 5 (Delahunty (2), Frew, Wallace, Roth)
South West Queensland – 0
