Under 12 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (13) v Redlands United FC (0)
From the initial kick off Fire played a high intensity attacking game and it was evident that they were well-prepared. Fire immediately placed pressure on Redlands’ midfield and defence. One minute in, a pass from Maxx Demerutis through to Jake Rocker put Fire on the scoreboard.
The three minute mark saw Kane Gibbs run the ball up the right side, pass back to Flynn Faulkner and hit Fire’s second goal in the back of the net. Fire didn’t stop the intensity with Harrison Whitelaw taking the ball up the left wing sending through to Gibbs who scored on the 5th minute.
Fire continued to place pressure on Redlands, pushing the ball around, resulting in numerous assists from Demerutis, Faulkner and Matthew Becker and goals from Kyan Bryant on the 9th minute, Rocker 13th minute, Bryant 15th minute, Gibbs 16th minute, Rocker 18th minute and 27th minute and the final goal for the half with a header by Gibbs on the 29th minute. First half 10-0 to Fire.
The second half saw continued intensity and pressure from Fire with a goal by Rocker on the 33rd minute. Fire continued to move the ball around the pitch, pushing forward looking for more goals. These results came on the 43rd minute with a goal by Kyle Barnes and the final goal for Fire on the 56th minute by Dimitri Westwood-Pritchard.
Player of the Match: Jake Rocker implemented what we had practiced in training resulting in 5 goals.
Under 13 Girls – Sunshine Coast FC (5) v Gold Coast City FC (1)
With the season coming to an end, Fire are determined to make it to the end with only one defeat all season. The girls knew a win was doable as earlier in the season they comfortably beat Gold Coast City 11-1. As the game started, the girls were straight into it and opened to scoreboard extremely early with a long distance, curled strike from Emily Roach in the 20th second of the game. Fire lead 1-0.
Although Fire were starting the game fast, lack of communication between them caused a lot of mistakes and near misses. The girls were struggling to string simple passes together and poor touches made it easier for Gold Coast to gain possession. In the 21st minute Courtney Brunner was able to find the net with a through ball from the sideline which gave Fire a 2-0 advantage as the second half approached. At half time a few tactical changes were made so that Fire would hopefully remain in the game despite losing concentration earlier in the game.
As the second half commenced it was Gold Coast who found the goal first with an easy ball through Fire’s defensive line. The girls knew they had to get their heads back into the game if they wanted to continue their winning streak. In the 51st minute Kirra-Leigh Crouch gained possession on the right wing and sprinted down field, passing 5 players as she ran. Crouch whipped the ball and found the feet of Bree Wallace who placed the ball into the net. Fire leading 3-1. Five minutes later Sommer Jordan stepped up to take a very long-ranged free kick, she lofted the ball straight over the defensive line and Audrey Upston was there to get on the end of it, she positioned herself perfectly and managed to first time volley and smash the ball into the net giving Fire an even bigger lead of 4-1. A couple of minutes later Emily Roach found the net again from the far left side with a powerful strike. The final whistle blew and Fire yet again had their winning ways with a convincing 5-1 win.
Player of the Match: Audrey Upston
Under 16 Boys – Sunshine Coast FC (0) v Redlands United FC (0)
This was going to be a match that Fire needed to win to not fall behind from the leaders on the ladder.
From the outset Redlands United FC started off attacking fast but both teams defended well. Mitchell Bridge crossed a gliding ball into the box from a corner and it was deflected out. Tom Croft attacked the ball and shot but it was also blocked and the ball fell to Kurtis Modlin who shot low and wide of the goals.
Sunshine Coast FC kept the ball with some great passing around the field until a through ball was put onto Modlin and he ran onto it and shot hard but the ball went wide. The ball was won in the centre of the park by Bridge who found himself in space and shot from outside the area low and hard but the keeper did well to save.
Redlands started a great attack through the middle of the field with some skilful passes to beat the Sunshine Coast defence and they shot from distance only for the ball to glide over the bar.
Modlin made a break down the right with his speed he beat the fullback, crossed to Bridge who played the ball onto Dylan Mountain who shot hard but the ball went over the bar.
Sunshine Coast lost the ball in the centre of the field and Redlands’ attack dribbled through, shot low and hard. Nathan Foster did fantastic to keep the ball out.
Bridge took a free kick in the 63rd minute which went around the wall low and hard but the Redlands goalkeeper got a fingertip to it and nudged it onto the post to deflect it out.
Modlin dribbled down the right hand side to beat his defender and passed it on to Bridge who controlled the ball and took it wide to pass it on to Mountain who shot but the goal keeper saved a hard shot. Overall it was a game of missed chances and good goal keeping from both sides.
Player of the Match: Nathan Foster
