Under 18 Boys – Redlands United FC (2) v Sunshine Coast FC (2)
Fire travelled away for the return match against Redlands with only the bare eleven but determined to reverse the first round loss to Redlands suffered at home. Both teams had not enjoyed much success this season and were desperate for points.
Fire welcomed the return of Aidan Ward back to the club and a new keeper Sam Porter.
Fire started the better and Redlands struggled to get out of their own half for the first five minutes. Fire were rewarded for their early dominance in the 9th minute when Abe Reeves put a searching ball into the Redlands box on the right and the advancing Redlands keeper, James Edgar, did not take the ball cleanly under close pressure from Jez Lofthouse. The ball fell to the feet of Lofthouse who placed the ball into an open net to make it 1-0 to Fire.
Reeves tried to press home the Fire advantage a minute later when he made a searching run on the right from half way past several Redlands defenders but his dangerous cross was scrambled away by a Redlands defender.
Fire was well on top after 15 minutes with Lofthouse holding the ball up well in the middle of the attack and the midfield enjoying good possession. Blake Howden was causing trouble for the Redlands defence with his close ball control and runs passed defenders and Matt Alberts was working hard on the right. The Fire defence ably lead by James Beckman and Mitch Bridge in the middle were comfortable in dealing with the balls Redlands were playing forward looking for space in behind.
After 20 minutes, Fire dropped their intensity a little and allowed Redlands possession and a way back into the game, however in the 25th minute Fire should have gone 2-0 up when Lofthouse put Howden through. Howden turned several defenders in a penetrating run into the box before his shot bounced agonisingly off the post back into the arms of the well beaten Edgar.
Despite the Fire dominance it was Redlands who equalised in the 31st minute when a speculative ball played up the middle caught the Fire defence square and Corey Hopkins was able to finish for Redlands to make it 1-1.
In the 38th minute the game was stopped for 5 minutes when Hopkins from Redlands was stretchered off with an ankle injury when he landed awkwardly in competing for a header. Despite enjoying the rest the stoppage afforded the Fire it was Redlands who finished the half the stronger.
Fire came out strongly in the second half having made a few positional changes and were almost rewarded when Ward cut in from the right onto his favourite left foot in the 48th minute but Edgar managed to push the strong shot away for a corner in a full length dive to his left.
A minute later Howden was away in behind the Redlands defence on the left with a deft touch and he continued his run to the backline and crossed into the box for Lofthouse arriving on the penalty spot to strike it cleanly into the net for his brace, and to make it 2-1 to the Fire.
Fire had to dig deep to keep their lead as they began to tire and survived chances to Redlands in the 52nd minute when a Redlands attacker slipped in behind the Fire defence and with only the advancing Porter in goal to beat, lobbed over the bar. A minute later a free header to Redlands cleared the bar.
On the hour Redlands brought on the last two of their four subs used in the game and were almost rewarded in the 65th minute but the Redlands attacker shot wide.
In spite of tiring legs Fire had the opportunity for a third goal when Blackmore put a neat pass through for Ward at the top of the box in the 68th minute only to see Edgar smother Ward’s shot in a 1v1.
Kye Yamaoka-Chapman was working hard at left back and Alberts in front of him as Redlands played numerous long balls in their efforts to release their winger in behind the Fire defence.
Play was breaking down in transition for Fire going forward and the added pressure finally told in the 74st minute when Zachary Takamaa latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box on the right and scored despite the diving Porter getting a hand to it. It was the second time in the match Redlands came from behind to equalise.
Not content with a draw, Fire created a number of chances with Blackmore’s shot narrowly missing in the 76th minute and two minutes later a free kick on the right from Lofthouse found its way through a crowded box to Croft but his header just cleared the bar. Howden put Lofthouse clear into the box in the 79th minute but Edgar denied him a hat trick in another 1v1.
Beckman denied Redlands in the 80th minute when he stuck a leg out in desperate defending to block a goal bound shot.
Although holding on as fatigue was growing, Fire thought they had the winner in the 88th minute when Blackmore floated a curling free kick into a crowded box from wide on the right onto the head of Croft who found the net to the delight of all in the Fire camp. The celebrations were short lived to the bemusement of all from Fire when the referee’s assistant flagged for a very debateable offside.
In the four minutes of extra time both teams had opportunities from free kicks to find the winner but ultimately had to share the points.
Player of Match: Jez Lofthouse
