Under 12 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (3) v Gold Coast City FC (1)
This weekend saw a double header between the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast City.
On Friday night the Sunshine Coast Fire boys played at their home ground under lights, where a win would guarantee them the premiership for 2016 moving 14 points clear with four rounds remaining.
It didn’t take long for Fire to warm up on a cold night immediately controlling the game in their offensive half. The 9th minute looked promising with a pass from Jack Connors at the back through to Jake Rocker heading towards the goal with a near miss. Again another scoring opportunity slipped through Fire’s fingers with Matthew Becker beating two defenders for a one on one chance with the keeper and the ball heading wide. Gold Coast City maintained their defence nullifying Kyan Bryant’s attempt to weave his way through the Gold Coast City back line ensuring we entered half time with a 0-0 score line.
The second half told a different story with a goal from Rocker within a minute of returning to the pitch.
Fire’s passing game continued with a ball from Harrison Whitelaw through to Flynn Faulkner and another shot on goal from Rocker. The Gold Coast City keeper deflected the ball into the path of Kyle Barnes resulting in Fire’s second goal on the 35th minute. Fire 2-0.
Gold Coast City continued to place pressure on Fire drawing a free kick and placing them on the scoreboard 2-1. As the game was drawing to a close Fire were intent on widening the gap and continued to push towards the Gold Coast City goals. A pass back from Maxx Demerutis to Faulkner and returned again with a strike on goal resulted in Fire’s 3rd and final goal by Demerutis on the 60th minute.
Under 12 Boys – Gold Coast City FC (1) v Sunshine Coast FC (4)
Sunshine Coast Fire and Gold Coast City met again on Sunday under a different setting, an away game in the warmth of the sunshine. Coming off a win Fire began confident and strong with success coming on the 6th minute with a goal by Dimitri Westwood-Pritchard followed by another from Nathan Weckert on the 17th minute.
Gold Coast City didn’t back down, challenging Fire, resulting in a shot on goal on the 27th minute and with a heroic save by keeper Ben Nassiep Fire went into half time 2-0 up.
Both teams returned to the field of play placing pressure on each other and forcing errors. A goal on the 40th minute by Rocker after a one on one challenge with the keeper placed Fire 3-0 up.
Still looking to place themselves on the board, Gold Coast City saw another opportunity slip away when a free kick was saved by goal keeper Riley Schamburg. Fire recomposed, passing the ball through the midfield resulting in a goal by Samuel Klein on the 54th minute. Fire 4-0.
The final goal of the match hit the net when Gold Coast City were awarded a free kick on the 57th minute.
Players of the weekend: Flynn Faulkner, Maxx Demerutis and Dimitri Westwood-Pritchard.
“Congratulation a well-earned and well deserved achievement, hard work discipline and superior technique has been the difference and with so much still to give the future looks bright for this young group of talented footballers.” – Coach Matt Huston.
Under 13 Boys – Gold Coast City FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
With a 35 game unbeaten run Gold Coast City were always going to be a difficult opponent on their home ground. The game started at a frantic pace with both teams finding it difficult to control the ball on a terrible playing surface. No real chances were created until the 10th minute. A beautiful through ball from Jack Williams split the defence as Jake Debbage created space down the wing. A great ball to the far post found Alex Patterson, however the Gold Coast centre backs made the task too hard for Patterson.
Todd Camm showed his versatility by playing the number 9 as several Fire players were missing. Camm didn’t look out of place as he constantly made life difficult for the Gold Coast defence. His hard work ‘paid off’ as he forced the keeper into an error and his wayward pass was swooped on by Camm. The ball was calmly slotted home to make it 1-0. Fire continued to apply pressure. Jayden Emery and Patrick Simpson were outstanding in the centre of midfield as they were first to every ball. The Gold Coast midfielders found it difficult to contain Emery as he was constantly intercepting passes and making crucial tackles. From one of these efforts a Fire corner was awarded. Simpson drifted a perfect corner across the goal and the ball just curled wide of the far post. 1-0 at the break.
The second half started in similar fashion with both teams trying to find a way through solid defence. An early Fire corner found Debbage on the far post where the ball sat up nicely. Debbage struck the ball with power, however just a little high. The best movement of the day came shortly after as a beautiful one touch passing exchange from Emery, Williams, Smith and Camm allowed Patterson a half chance. The ball was pushed wide as the Gold Coast defence allowed very little time on the ball.
The Fire defenders were outstanding all day. The central pairing of Lombardo and Evans out muscled their opponents and ran the ball at the right times. Ellenberger, MacMillan and Toye constantly intercepted passes and looked to attack at every opportunity. All defenders excelled which in turn allowed Fire to keep their first clean sheet of the year. A great team effort by all players and a well-deserved victory in a very entertaining game.
Player of the Match: Alex Patterson
Under 14 Boys – Gold Coast City FC (4) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
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Under 15 Boys – Gold Coast City FC (0) v Sunshine Coast FC (6)
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Under 16 Boys – Gold Coast City FC (2) v Sunshine Coast FC (1)
Sunshine Coast FC were going up against Gold Coast City FC who were leading on the ladder so it was going to be a tough game.
On the 10th minute Tom Croft passed a fantastic through ball on to Terone Wattegedara who took it on his stride and lined up the ball for a hard shot but it went just wide of the post. By the 15th minute both teams were playing fast attacking football and the game was also getting physical.
On the 17th minute Gold Coast City FC attacked down their left hand side and Nathan Foster was left one on one with a Gold Coast City FC forward. Foster made a fantastic dive and stopped the ball for a great save.
Sam Moore was brought down for a penalty in the 25th minute. Wattegedara stepped up to take the shot which went low and wide but the Gold Coast City FC keeper was able to save it with a dive.
On the 30th minute Dane Dawson put in a diagonal cross onto the path of Terone Wattegedara who skilfully controlled the ball and dummied to beat his player followed by a hard shot past the keeper.
On the 36th minute there was a scramble in the 6 yard box and Sunshine Coast FC were unable to kick the ball clear, Liam Phelps forced the ball through a wall of defence to shoot low past the keeper.
Sunshine Coast FC gave away possession on Gold Coast City’s half then Gold Coast City counter attacked down the left wing with speed and the ball was crossed into the large area and Jared Hall-Hart pounced onto the ball to kick it hard past the Fire keeper.
Both teams displayed a gutsy performance but Gold Coast City FC got on top on the day.
Player of the Match: Nathan Foster
Under 18 Boys – Olympic FC (2) v Sunshine Coast FC (0)
For the last game of the season Fire 18s travelled to South Brisbane on Friday night for the re-scheduled game against Olympic.
The game kicked off at 7.15pm and the Fire looked as if they were already thinking about the end of season break when five minutes into the game Fire lost Liam Burns with a leg injury.
Despite this early setback Fire were looking to get forward and put some pressure on the Olympic goal but in the 12th minute there appeared to be some confusion in the Fire defence. The unmarked Dayan Baker for Olympic was first to react and place the ball into the net passed some idle Fire defenders to make it 1-0 to Olympic in what was their first real attack on the Fire goal.
Olympic were content to sit back and let the Fire defenders have the ball but pressed as soon as the ball was played forward into the Fire midfield.
Fire gradually worked their way into the game, however, and on the half hour Jake Nalder put Sebastian Festa into space behind the Olympic defence on the right. Festa cut inside the Olympic defender into the box and earned a penalty when he was ridden to the ground in the defender’s desperation to stop him. Jez Lofthouse unfortunately saw his spot kick narrowly clear the bar.
Fire were punished two minutes later when the defence was stretched and Matt Cann for Olympic found himself unmarked and through into space behind the Fire defence inside the box. He had time to steady himself before driving the ball into the net the make it 2-0.
The second goal allowed Olympic to relax and hold possession and dominate the game and Fire were unable to hold possession with poor pass completion as they chased the game.
Fire came closest to scoring in the 42nd minute when Sam Standish made a good individual run into the Olympic box and with a low shot from a narrow angle forced their keeper, Dakota Sprange, to palm the ball away for a corner.
Fire started brightly in the second half and immediately forced a corner and continued to put pressure on the Olympic goal.
Fire were looking the better team until the 60th minute when a bizarre and dramatic flicker occurred in some of the spot lights as they appeared to have blown out, after which the lighting dimmed significantly and the referee stopped the game as he deemed it too dangerous to continue. The players and officials stood around for ten minutes on the field in the cooling night breeze waiting for the ground officials to turn the offending spotlights back on.
The game continued and Fire were back on the attack but were unable to score. The game had another two extended stoppages when the Olympic keeper twice sought treatment but was able to continue on both occasions.
In the 80th minute Sam Porter in goal for Fire pulled off the save of the game. A header from an Olympic free kick was heading for the top corner and a certain goal when Porter launched himself and tipped it over the bar for a corner.
Six minutes later Olympic could have extended their lead but the attacker blasted it over the bar.
Fire continued to create half chances without reward and in the 90th minute Ollie Blackmore saw his goal bound shot parried by Sprange at pace into the path of the advancing Lofthouse who received an awkward bounce and his first time shot cleared the bar from close range.
In keeping with the strange game, the final play of the season saw an Olympic attacker go unpunished as he lunged, studs up into the chest of Porter as he bravely came off his line to collect the ball. The game was stopped while Porter lay on the ground receiving treatment and the referee blew the final whistle before play resumed.
Fire had been the better team in the second half but had nothing to show for it as the score remained 2-0 to Olympic.
