Under 12 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Olympic FC (2)
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Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (3) v Olympic FC (0)
Top of the table plays fifth in what should be a tough technical game of football.
After two scrappy games the Sunshine Coast Fire 13 Boys came out firing from the outset against a strong Olympic FC playing some fabulous free-flowing football at a relentless tempo.
Great movement of the ball from the defence into the midfield and out wide to the wingers stretched the Olympic team and created several chances, which the Fire were unlucky not to take.
Olympic responded by some tough tackling, however, the Fire were more than a match for this showing their strength and tenacity as well as their high tempo, technical brand of football.
The Fire controlled the first half from start to finish and were unlucky to finish the half without a goal.
The second half resumed the same flowing football by the Fire and on 36 minutes the team were rewarded with a goal. Great work by Ewan Gordon down the left beating three players before laying off the ball to Jacob Smith. Smith then played a short pass back to the oncoming Harry Arnison whose powerful drive from outside the box was too strong for the Olympic keeper.
The Olympic team were now tiring and the Fire took full advantage of this pressing the opposition back into their own half. On 54 minutes the Fire’s lead was doubled after some quick passes through the midfield culminated with Jack Beardsley spreading the ball wide to Luke Varga on the right wing. Varga played an intelligent ball back to Bailey Ratcliff, who fired a great looping shot over the keeper to make it two nil to the Fire.
Two minutes later the game was made safe when a wonderful exchange of passes from the Fire defence through the midfield and out to the right flank resulted in a deep cross by Luke Varga. The ball was turned back into the box to Jack Beardsley, who collected the ball, turned and laid a short pass back to Harry Arnison. Arnison’s first time, goal bound shot was deflected past the helpless Olympic keeper into the left hand corner. A fantastic team goal from an excellent link play between defenders, midfield and strikers.
Overall an excellent team performance by the Fire Boys playing a high level of football and thoroughly enjoying the ‘beautiful game’.
Player of the Match: Harry Arnison – a superb all round performance in midfield with excellent tenacity and distribution, capped off with two fine strikes.
Under 13 Girls
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v SWQ Thunder FC (0)
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Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Olympic FC (2)
Olympic is always a tough opponent and with windy conditions and a heavy pitch, today would prove no different.
A Yellow card was given in the 3rd minute to #17 Olympic player for not subbing correctly when changing his skins. After protests from the Olympic coaches, play finally resumed in the 6th minute.
Daniel Cuttler made a nice run up the right wing in the 7th minute, only to shoot the ball right of the goal.
Both teams were defending well and Olympic was pressing high on the Fire defence.
GK Nathan Foster was forced into a drop save in the 10th minute; Foster managed to get a finger to it and the ball deflected off the left post.
A poor referee decision in the 15th minute cost the Fire a penalty, when a handball on Olympics’ line in the box was flagged by the sideline referee, but went unnoticed by the field ref.
Daniel Cuttler received a Yellow card after a few consecutive foul tackles.
Fire was creating plenty of chances in the next 10 minutes with several shots at the goal but none finding their mark.
A Yellow card was then awarded to Olympic player Tyson Martin for a foul tackle on Daniel Cuttler and the free kick went straight to the keeper.
Olympics’ GK did well making a few great saves to deny Fire of that elusive goal.
Harrison Bowen was solid in defence, keeping the ball tight and showing Olympic the line several times.
The 34th minute saw Olympic open the scoring with an offside player. The ball was not cleared from the six-yard box and was shot passed GK Nathan Foster and into the left of goal. (0-1)
Fire replied just before the half time whistle, when a ball was passed in from Mackenar Bradfield to find Kaelan Debbage waiting directly in front of goal for him to shoot past the keeper. (1-1)
Going to the break, the Fire defence was under a lot of pressure and Oli Williams was working hard in the midfield as well. The first half saw 150 touches on ball from the team, but only 70 completed passes. This summed up that the Fire was giving away half their possession and not playing into wider areas.
A change of players in the second half saw Budd Baublys strong in defence and made some great attacking runs. Mackenar Bradfield created some nice opportunities on the right wing and was fearless in his hunt for the ball.
The Fire defence pushed forward in the 42nd minute and Olympic didn’t hesitate to open up the Fire back-line. A 1v1 with GK Nathan Foster saw the ball slot past him into the back of the net. (1-2)
With Olympics’ GK off injured, Fire should have capitalised. Instead of playing football and placing the ball, several shots (including 2 open goals) went everywhere except for in the net.
However the 51st minute, Kaelan Debbage ran up the left wing to cut in and shoot from near the 18-yard box to go over the keeper’s head and drop into the right side of goal. (2-2)
Some challenging moments in the game from start to finish cost the team in the end. Missing some cues in transition and not being able to stick with the team tasks by looking to play quick forward movement and combining in the midfield. However, there were some very promising performances from players on their individual tasks set to challenge them and keep the focus on improving. With a week’s break ahead, it gives the Fire plenty of time to focus on the upcoming fixtures and to look forward to improving as a team.
Player of the Match: Mackenar Bradfield
Under 15 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (3) v Olympic FC (0)
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Under 15 Girls
Sunshine Coast Fire (0) v SWQ Thunder FC (0)
The girls had a bit of a slow start but picked up the intensity before half time. The Fire girls were unlucky not to score but kept trying to push through a great SWQ back line, the girls tried to do some combination play and all the ideas were right we were just an able to pull them off due to the strong SWQ defensive side. There were some great individual performances in our own back line with every single one of the girls getting a few knocks but putting their bodies on the line. One of our best chances came from jazmyn salih who had control of the ball just outside the 18 yard box who played it outside to Alex cannon who’s shot went narrowly too wide. Also our young gun goal keeper Sommer stopped a penalty from a handball in the last 5 minutes that let us walk away with a draw.
Under 18 Boys
Brisbane Strikers FC (5) v Sunshine Coast Fire (4)
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