Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Two
North Queensland Razorbacks v Sunshine Coast Fire
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
Two weeks into the QSL season and Queensland’s torrid run with weather is continuing to affect the competition. Of the five games scheduled for Round 2, four were postponed, with only the Fire’s clash with the North Queensland Razorbacks going ahead.
The match finished in a 3-0 win for the Fire, courtesy of an own goal and a Tyson Holmes brace.
Although scheduled for kick-off in Townsville at 7pm, the match was brought forward to a 4pm start and moved to International Park in Ayr, as the Townsville ground was washed out.
The changes did little to damage the Fire’s preparation according to coach Richard Hudson, who was glad his charges didn’t have to wait around for hours until kick-off time. The earlier kick-off did affect match conditions however, with temperatures in the mid-thirties and humidity very high.
“It was absolutely stifling out there, to the point the referees ordered a drinks break midway through each half. We had to warm up for the game in any shade we could find,” Hudson said.
The match kicked off and the Sunshine Coast had early opportunities to score through Aaron Brazendale and Shaun Blackman, but an opening goal went begging. Despite the early possession, it was a horrendous mix-up between Razorback teammates that yielded the Fire’s first goal, with Robin Stewart notching a mortifying own-goal on 11 minutes.
With the North Queensland outfit disappointed to go behind so early, the Fire pressed the advantage and continued to dictate terms. With ten minutes to go in the first half, new captain Tyson Holmes netted his first goal of the QSL season to put the Fire two up at the break.
The Sunshine Coast had a number of chances to add to the tally after half-time, but it wasn’t until late in the game when Holmes added a third for a comfortable 3-0 victory.
The result puts the Fire three points clear atop the QSL ladder, albeit against sides who have only played one game, or in the case of the FNQ Bulls and Gold Coast Stars, no games at all.
After 180 minutes of football, the Fire are yet to concede a goal and have been largely unchallenged in defence. Richard Hudson attributes this to the Fire’s goal to dominate possession.
“Our priority is on scoring goals, and so long as we can continue to do that our defence will take care of itself. Though I do believe that our boys at the back are very solid and understand each other, and the results are showing that.”
As for the Fire’s youth teams, the Under-19s had a bye while the Gympie Fire went down 3-1 at home against the Logan Strikers. 3-0 down at the break, the Gympie boys rallied to win the second half and carry some momentum into next week. It was a noted improvement on Round 1, when the Fire went down 7-2 against Southern Cross United.
Although the Gympie Fire are winless after two games, Hudson believes the side have progressed a great deal in a short space of time.
“From where the team started from to where they are now, the progression has been fantastic – the boys have come on in leaps and bounds. They are a young side with the majority of players aged 16 or 17, and did well to win the second half against Logan on the weekend. The team is a work-in-progress at this stage, but I have no doubts the results will come in time.”
