Under 12 Boys
Palm Beach Sharks (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (2)
Coast v Coast saw the Fire starting the game confident and looking to beat Palm Beach after their draw in the 1st round of the season.
Both teams started strongly and a tough game followed with Palm Beach physically strong, particularly in midfield. Fire struggled to find their feet and didn’t look themselves in the early stages. Some good moves and the game ebbed and flowed in the early stages.
The Sharks took the lead in the 12th minute. A through ball unlocking our defence and the Palm Beach number 11 calmly stroked the ball past GK Salih (0v1, 12 mins)
The introduction of Camm and Rzoska at the drinks break saw the midfield sure-up and we started to play some good football. One of the game’s few free kicks after a foul led to the equaliser. Debbage chipped the ball into the right space in the box between GK and attackers and the pressure saw the Palm Beach continuing to fumble the ball. Camm reacted quickly and fired the ball home low with one of his first touches. (1v1, 15mins)
Palm Beach continued to work hard and could have grabbed another goal or two.
One outstanding reaction save to his left at the near post from Salih stopped a certain goal.
And another certain goal was saved by the quick thinking and quick legs of Roberts, sprinting back to clear the ball off the line as the ball was about to roll over the white line.
Happy to get the boys in to settle – Half Time 1v1.
The second half was a mixed bag. The first 15 minutes belonged to the Fire, encamped in the Sharks half and played the best football of the game. Law came close, as did Patterson and Emery.
Camm, Rzoska and Emery dominated midfield the attackers saw much more of the ball than the first half. It looked like a matter of time before would score. It took 13 minutes. A driving run and strong recovery tackle from Emery before playing a killer ball to Smith. Young Aaron glided with the ball towards the box, before expertly firing home a quality goal. (2v1, 43 mins)
Fire then lost their grip on the game and Palm Beach came back into the game and were on top for most of the last 10 minutes of the game. Fire looked desperate at times and struggled to keep the ball. Sharks defended high and pressed very early from our GKs (not the spirit of the NPL) Fire lost their normal control and we gifted the ball to them numerous times with loose passes. Some last ditch defending, the cross bar and an off-side flag saved the Fire in the end. It could quite easily have ended differently but the fulltime whistle came with relief. (Full time Fire 2 v Sharks 1)
Player of the Match: Todd Camm brought some steel and composure to midfield when we needed it and blended this with some attractive passing football.
Under 13 Boys
Palm Beach Sharks (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (5)
*Not yet submitted
Under 13 Girls
Sunshine Coast Fire (4) v Eastern Suburbs FC (0)
*Not yet submitted
Under 14 Boys
Palm Beach Sharks (2) v Sunshine Coast Fire (5)
Due to the wet conditions that played havoc across the Southeast prior to the weekend, this was the only NPL U14 game to be played this weekend, with the Palm Beach fields being sand based which allowed for good drainage. After beating Palm Beach 5-1 in Round 1, the Fire team was hoping to get similar results from their second encounter.
The early start and long distance travelling created a sluggish beginning for the Fire and the first 10 minutes saw Palm Beach applying pressure and knocking the ball around well. Palm Beach was able to get around the Fire defence and GK Kurt Moore-Barnard was forced to sprint to the ball and make a sideline clearance.
An early opportunity for the Fire was not capitalized on when a free kick was awarded to Oli Williams for a foul tackle just outside of the box. Daniel Cuttler tried to place a sneaky ball around the wall but it deflected off a Palm Beach defender and went out for a corner.
Momentum then slowly changed in the Fire’s favour and on the 14th minute, a nice run from Daniel Cuttler just inside of halfway, saw him outpace the Palm Beach defence and place the ball into the bottom left of the goal. (0-1)
Only a minute later, Daniel Cuttler aiming for Kaelan Debbage, crossed the ball in but it deflected off the Palm Beach defender and into the goal. The referee awarded the goal to Cuttler, as he believed it was heading into the goal anyway. (0-2)
The 18th minute saw a well-aimed shot at goal by Sean Bentley, but the Palm Beach GK saved it comfortably.
A yellow card was given to the Palm Beach GK in the 25th minute after a foul tackle on Tom Whittaker. Kaelan Debbage took the free kick, but the ball deflected off a Palm Beach defender to land at Archie Waterson’s feet for him to have a shot at goal but the ball hit the cross bar. The next six minutes saw Fire giving away several free kicks for sloppy tackles, high boots and a handball.
This was amended with the best play of the game in the 32nd minute. A play out from GK Kurt Moore-Barnard to Joseph Higginson for him to bounce back to the keeper and then Moore-Barnard placed the ball to Harry Fletcher. Fletcher ran up the right side of the field and fed the ball for Tom Whittaker to beat the Palm Beach player and cross the ball in for Owen Brader to roof it into the centre of the net. (0-3)
The team had finally settled after their slow start and was playing some nice direct football and holding procession.
Just before half time in the 34th minute, GK Moore-Barnard stayed big and deflected a short-range shot before smothering the ball.
The second half was approached by Palm Beach with better intensity and desire to win the ball. In the 42nd minute, a free kick from Palm Beach saw the ball hit the crossbar and deflect for a Palm Beach player to head into the goal. (1-3)
In the 43rd minute, Palm Beach got the ball over the Fire defence, but Harrison Hooper chased the player down and Palm Beach was only able to get a soft shot away directly to the keeper. Another brilliant (all ball) solid slide tackle was also made by Harrison Hooper six minutes later, which left the Palm Beach player tasting dirt.
The 45th minute saw great intensity from Mackenar Bradfield who won the ball and played it for Tom Whittaker to put the ball through for Oli Williams to drive the ball into the mid left corner of the goal. (1-4)
Mackenar Bradfield again showed his skill, by beating several players in the 55th minute to off-load the ball to Daniel Cuttler and pass through for Oli Williams to take a shot that went just wide of the goal.
Sean Bentley was working the midfield well and created some nice opportunities. He showed stamina when he chased down a Palm Beach player who was away with the ball and made a well-timed challenge that saw the ball go over the sideline.
Palm Beach was getting sloppy and the ball was turned over by their defence for Sean Bentley to pick up the loose ball and play to Daniel Cuttler. Cuttler made space through the defenders and shot across the face of goal to find the net inside the far post. (1-5) A nice cross from Harry Fletcher in the 61st minute, found the head of Mackenar Bradfield but the keeper secured the ball.
Fire took their foot of the pedal and lost concentration in the 64th minute, when a ball that started from Palm Beach’s GK was worked through the midfield for their forward to run into space and chip GK Moore-Barnard. (2-5)
Overall a good performance by the Fire team. However, keeping possession and looking after the ball would ensure a better domination of the game.
Player of the Match: Sean Bentley
Under 15 Boys
Palm Beach Sharks (2) v Sunshine Coast Fire (2)
*Not yet submitted
Under 15 Girls
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Eastern Suburbs FC (2)
While the U15 girls have been on the losing side of a number of very close matches for the start of the season, the girls have shown a lot of development and give 100℅ each game. Sunday’s game against Eastern Suburbs was no different with the team playing out of the back and executing midfield passing combinations.
Fire was able to get multiple through balls through East’s defence resulting in multiple chances on goal. Following the drink break Jane Uebergang got possession at the top of East’s 18 yard box and after beating a couple defenders had a shot which roofed the keeper and resulted in a goal. Unfortunately, Easts did well to respond and was able to score evening up the game going into half. In the second half the team continued to work hard with the midfield and defence working hard to shut down Easts offence. Briana Hopa was a huge help, coming on in the second half, giving the midfield a rest and bringing a spark to the game. Easts scored again shortly after the second half drinks break, but the Fire girls fought to stay in the game. Their hard work paid off and Jane scored again, giving Fire a draw to end the game.
Player of the Match: Jane Uebergang
Under 16 Boys
Palm Beach Sharks (1) v Sunshine Coast Fire (6)
Despite the torrential rain over the last few days, the Mallawa Complex field was in good condition for the return clash between these two sides. The 2-0 defeat of the Fire by Palm Beach for the first home game of the season did not sit well with the Fire boys and they started like they meant to make amends.
The first real chance came in the 3rd minute when Callum Jones found space in behind the Palm Beach defence with a ball for Matt Cann to line up a shot on goal, only for the Palm Beach keeper to get a hand to it and push it wide.
Fire continued to build pressure on the Palm Beach defence. In the 8th minute Kobe Fuller was able to press on the Palm Beach centre back and dispossess him to slot a well-directed shot passed the Palm Beach keeper to make it 1-0 to the Fire.
In the 11th minute Palm Beach were able to mount an attack down the Fire’s left defence and from a ball crossed into the penalty area a Palm Beach attacker lined up a shot that was looking dangerous for the Fire until Liam Burns made a timely body-on-the-line challenge to block the shot.
Neither team was in control of the game when a Palm Beach attacker fired in an ambitious long range low shot which Josh Wall got a hand to at full stretch and pushed for a corner.
At the 15 minute mark Matt Cann won the ball up front and accelerated into space in behind the Palm Beach defence and as he closed in on goal for a one on one with the keeper, the quickly advancing keeper was able to smother Matt’s goal bound shot and gather in the loose ball.
Fire were beginning to drop their intensity but a poor shot from Palm Beach, which went limply wide of the post, gave Fire a reprieve in the 18th minute. A few minutes later another Palm Beach raid down the Fire’s left also saw a cross and resulting shot sail wide for a Fire goal kick.
Sean Culpitt was having a solid game in defence at centre back for the Fire and in the 31st minute injected himself forward as he intercepted a ball on half way and made an impressive run to create an extra man in attack.
Despite individual moments of good play the Fire were continuing to invite Palm Beach into the game and just on half time Palm Beach made Fire pay when they scored to make it 1-1.
The Fire went in a little flat after conceding so late in the half. The coaches questioned the Fire boys’ desire and after a few more words of advice sent them out in the second half with renewed purpose and the Fire went immediately on the attack.
Kobe Fuller stretched the Palm Beach defence with a run deep on the right and from the resulting cross Palm Beach failed to clear the danger. Jack Bowen rounded a defender and his low hard shot beat the Palm Beach keeper in the 41st minute. 2-1 to the Fire. Great start to the second half.
Fire were keen for more and in the 45th minute Aiden Ward put Matt Cann into space on the right. Matt’s cross drew the keeper of his line but this time he slightly misjudged his advance and Jack Bowen was able to rise above all and head home for his second to make it 3-1 to the Fire.
Fire didn’t have it all their own way and Josh Wall got a hand to a low hard shot after a Palm Beach attacker turned the Fire defender to set up the shot in the 46th minute.
The light showers at the beginning of the second half that made the grass a bit slicker had now eased off.
For the next few minutes Fire had Palm Beach pinned in their own half as the Fire defence lead by Sean Culpitt and James Beckman was able to break down any potential attacks and Fire in turn mounted a number of attacks without adding further to the score.
In the 55th minute Fire should have been rewarded with a goal from a great passing exchange between a number of players but Nick Kirkpatrick’s shot went agonisingly wide.
For the second week in a row Matt Cann had been asked to fill in at right back in the second half and his solid effort was exemplified by his bone crunching front on tackle in the 58th minute to keep Palm Beach in their own half.
Josh Wall was once again put under pressure in the 60th minute when he took a clean catch from a crossed ball and the Palm Beach attacker, arriving a little late, clashed heads with him. Josh was able to continue after a short stoppage for attention.
From then on Fire applied more pressure going forward and in the 62nd minute Aiden Ward put a through ball for Jack Bowen to slot home for his hat trick to make it 4-1. Fire now had the momentum and a minute later Addison Brader found Kobe Fuller who split the Palm Beach defence with a neat touch and continued his run in behind the defence. Kobe timed his pass well for Aiden Ward to run onto it and slot it home to make it 5-1.
Fire’s domination of Palm Beach in the second half was now almost complete but Abe Reeves in the 69th minute made an incisive run at goal and his shot from close range was heading for the top right hand corner when the Palm Beach keeper made the save of the day and flung a hand behind him when he appeared beaten and clawed the ball away for a corner. Abe was enjoying finishing the game on the right wing and just before full time another chance was created by his blistering pace when he came inside off the wing and denied the quickly advancing Palm Beach keeper the chance to clear and left the keeper stranded well outside the penalty box with no defenders in sight. Abe strolled into the penalty box and ran the ball across the goal line to make the final score 6-1.
Fire scored 5 unanswered goals in the second half for a satisfying win.
Players of the Match: Jack Bowen & Sean Culpitt
Youth Women
Sunshine Coast Fire (11) v Eastern Suburbs FC (2)
The Fire team played a lot of great football today on a difficult rain soaked, muddy pitch. They controlled possession from the back five, through midfield and into the forward line setting up attacking moves that regularly got in behind the Eastern defence. The team combined well to win the ball and made better use of opportunities in attack with a few fine goals coming off short passes or crosses in front of goal rather than shooting from a very narrow angle.
Zoe had an excellent game today and shared Player of the Match with Madi. Paige made a number of excellent runs to set up the first goal making a well-timed cross in to Madi who volleyed to score. The whole move started with Zoe combining with Jess to play through to Paige who did so well in 1v1’s to beat the defender and cross in to Madi. The second goal came off another excellent cross by Paige forcing a defensive error and own goal. Paige then scored off another run and 1v1 win and a well-placed drive.
The fourth was started when Holly won the ball, beat the attacking mid and put a through ball for Lisa to race onto and finish. Madi scored the next two off excellent runs in behind the defence to beat the goalkeeper with well-placed shots. Two minutes before half time Jess combined well with Madi to finish. Eastern managed to score their second off an outstanding long shot from the edge of the penalty area into the back corner of the net.
Lisa scored the next two goals, the second perhaps the more spectacular of the two after a pass from Jess in midfield was very skilfully touched through by Madi for Lisa to finish at speed. Madi had the last say, scoring from the edge of the penalty area with around twenty minutes remaining.
The players that came off the bench made a real impact to maintain the pressure of the first half, Bri played in her signature fast, fearless style to win a lot ball and set our midfield and attacking moves, it was also good to have Teyana back from her trip to Europe and training camp with West Ham United. Teena had a number of good runs and crosses.
Players of the Match: Madi Warren & Zoe Hopwood
