Under 12 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (3) v Brisbane City FC (1)
Fire headed into this match with the knowledge that our last two encounters with Brisbane City had resulted in both a loss and a win. The muddy pitch and heavy ball provided tough conditions with the boys having to work hard and remain strong.
Both teams came out hungry for the ball, Brisbane City using their bodies and Fire using their skill. Fire maintained majority of possession in their offensive half, pressing towards goals, with shots by Kane Gibbs, Nathan Weckert and Jake Rocker, putting pressure on Brisbane City resulting in numerous free kicks. The 24th minute saw the fruition of a free kick from Weckert and Fire was on the board 1-0.
In the second half Fire came out composed and within two minutes Kyan Bryant struck the ball, missing top corner by millimetres. Fire knew they were close for another goal and didn’t let the heavy conditions hold them back. A tackle by Flynn Faulkner and pass through to Gibbs lead to Fire’s second goal at the 36th minute, 2-0 to Fire.
Brisbane City didn’t give up, eventually breaking through with a long shot on the 44th minute, struck beautifully and hitting top right corner. Brisbane City was on the board and lifted, testing Fire’s defence which remained strong despite the slippery, muddy conditions. The third and final goal came at the 60th minute when Sam Klein was awarded a free kick. With a composed strike of the ball, Klein’s goal cemented Fire’s 3-1 win on the buzzer.
Player of the Match: Dimitri Westwood-Pritchard – consistently worked hard throughout the match.
Under 13 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (1) v Brisbane City FC (4)
In heavy, wet conditions Fire were determined to improve on their first two games against Brisbane City. From the first whistle Fire showed great purpose as they pushed the ball around nicely and worked hard in defence by closing players down quickly and applying plenty of pressure on the ball.
Patrick Swindles and Jake Ellenberger started the game well as both made attacking runs down the wing and made life difficult for the City wingers. Jacob Lombardo was aggressive in defence and his superb reading of the game allowed him to intercept numerous attacking plays. Great combination play between Jayden Emery and Aaron Smith was also causing problems for City early on as City desperately tried to stop the ball being fed to Alex Patterson and Jake Debbage.
Connor Evans playing the #6 role for the first time this year showed his versatility as he dominated the midfield. Evans was solid in defence and his ball distribution started numerous Fire attacks. It was City who scored first though. Against the run of play a loose ball in box wasn’t dealt with and City pounced to make it 1-0 after 13 minutes. Fire continued to play positively and create opportunities. Patterson found himself 1v1 with the keeper only to drive the ball directly at him as the keeper did well to narrow all shooting angles. Moments later a great run and through ball from Emery found Debbage behind the City defense. A well struck shot was pushed wide by the City keeper. 1-0 at the break.
Fire didn’t start the second half with the same intensity as the first and allowed City to score two quick goals after the resumption of play. As Fire slowly gained momentum Evans beat his marker and fed the ball to Emery who had found space out wide. As he has done many times before, Emery beat several players with his pace and deceptive changes of direction. A dangerous cross into the box was turned into the goal by a City defender as several Fire attackers were about to pounce. The game could have gone either way if Fire could have scored again quickly, however a quality City team continued to hold onto the ball. In the 53rd minute a powerful strike from distance from a City midfielder was brilliantly saved by debutant keeper Lachlan Norwood. Norwood had a superb first game making several fine saves and displaying some excellent ball distribution off both feet. With only a few minutes to go City put the game out of reach with a final goal to make it 4-1.
Player of the Match: Connor Evans
Under 14 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (2) v Brisbane City FC (6)
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Under 15 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (0) v Brisbane City FC (3)
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Under 16 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (2) v Brisbane City FC (0)
Straight from the outset of the game the pace was fast and both teams were pressing high up the field to try and make the opposition’s defence make a mistake.
On the 14th minute there was a break through the middle of the field as Kurtis Modlin headed the ball onto Taj Suffolk and he had a shot but the ball flew over the goals.
Mitchell Bridge made a break down the right side of the field and played the ball to Modlin who dribbled down the centre and played a through ball to Suffolk who was one on one with the keeper. Suffolk shot hard and the ball deflected off the Brisbane City keeper into the back of the net.
Modlin ran onto the ball in the 23rd minute, beat his defender and shot down low but the ball was saved by the keeper. Suffolk and Terone Wattegedara played a one-two pass to each other to open the Brisbane City FC defence then Suffolk. Modlin took the ball down the wing and cut it back into the box and Suffolk’s shot was blocked to stop what looked to be a sure goal in the 34th minute.
The ball was well defended by Dane Dawson who tackled his defender that started an attack by Suffolk. Suffolk played the ball onto Modlin who used his speed down the right wing to beat his defender and placed the ball into the back of the net.
Fire had a free kick just outside the box which Mitchell Bridge took and kicked it to the far post which was met by a header from Suffolk down onto the path of Wattegedara whose shot went into the side netting. A goal was also disallowed soon after as it was ruled offside after it was side footed into the back of the net by Aaron Robertson.
Player of the Match: Kurtis Modlin
