Under 12 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (3) v Moreton Bay United FC (3)
An in-form Fire welcomed Moreton Bay to Western Fields for this Round 2 make-up game. It was to be a tough day as Fire battled the wind and a physical opposition who didn’t want to be outplayed again.
Fire started well and took an early lead. From a corner, Lombardo continued his knack of being in the right place at the right time and steered the ball home. (1v0, 4 mins)
Fire stayed on top but never really got hold of the game, giving up possession in midfield too easily.
Moreton Bay grabbed an equaliser against the run of play after Fire failed to deal with a cross for a simple goal. (1v1)
Fire struck back immediately. Good work on the left from Debbage and a nice cross. The ball finally fell to Gaske who composed himself before finishing with an excellent strike. (2v1, 22 mins)
But once again, Fire struggled to keep the ball from the back and conceded another simple goal to make it 2v2.
Just before half time Fire took the lead for a third time after more pressure and the Moreton Bay defender heading into his own net. (3v2, half time)
The second half was a tough one and Moreton Bay played long and physical style, using the wind to their advantage. Fire continued to struggle at the back and in midfield. Their battling qualities were there but without their normal composure with the ball.
Luke Bright (half time sub GK) called into action early making a terrific and very brave save at the feet of the attacker after a through ball.
Moreton Bay grabbed a deserved equaliser (3v3) and looked like they would go on to win the game. Bright making a number of good saves to keep Fire in the game.
Fire looked dangerous going forward, but Moreton Bay defended strongly. After already losing Debbage at HT to injury Fire then went on to lose another 3 players to injury.
Player of the Match: Luke Bright – the shadow GK came off the bench in only his second Fire game, and faced the wind and a lot of attacks.
Under 13 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (5) v Moreton Bay United FC (0)
The long weekend brought the rearranged ‘TC Marcia postponed’ match against Moreton Bay Jets. There was everything to play for as the Sunshine Coast Fire looked to rekindle their early season form with Moreton Bay seeking out a second win of the season. The Sunshine Coast Fire 13 Boys came into the match on the back of a tough midweek game and 3-0 win against the BRFC/QAS NTC Girls and were more than ready for the challenge of second bottom Moreton Bay Jets.
The loyal Fire following were not disappointed as the boys kicked into gear with their high tempo fast football, moving the ball quickly between the defence, midfield and forwards. It was only a matter of time for the first goal. Finally, on 21 minutes the wait was over when a defence splitting pass was met by Luke Varga, who skilfully side-stepped the Moreton Bay keeper to slot the ball into an empty net. Seven minutes later it was two-nil to the Fire after a strong driving run by Luke Varga, who was stopped by being brought down on the edge of the box. Harry Arnison hit the resultant free kick with power and dip past the diving keeper.
The Fire came out for the second half strongly with no let-up of their relentless forward drive.
As Moreton Bay started to tire the goals came with Callum Pearce netting a hat-trick in just over twenty minutes to put the game out of reach. His first came from a pass into the corner of the 18-yard box. Callum cut in past the marking defender unleashing a great low left-footed shot into the bottom corner, three nil. Callum Pearce’s second resulted from an excellent ball by Sam Aitkin over the back line, which was met by Pearce’s strong run and low finish into the bottom corner. The fifth and final goal of the game came from an excellent driven pass into the box by Sam Fleming, which was met first time by Jack Beardsley. Beardsley’s quick one touch pass into Callum Pearce was hit first time past the stranded keeper, a great finish by Pearce to complete his well-deserved hat-trick.
Player of the Match: Callum Pearce – a great demonstration of lively, aggressive, pressing, attacking play with a fantastic hat-trick as deserved reward.
Under 13 Girls
SWQ Thunder FC (0) v Sunshine Coast Fire (1)
*Not yet submitted
Under 14 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (4) v Moreton Bay United FC (0)
Having played the BRFC WWL team mid-week and adjusting well to the fast pace of that game, the Fire were content to bring this style of play into this Round 2 wet weather make-up fixture and use the windy conditions to their advantage.
From the opening minute, the Fire team was on the hunt and played with great intensity. The third minute saw Moreton Bay’s GK forced into an early save from a well-placed shot by Tom Whittaker.
Tom Whittaker made a great break up the left wing in the 12th minute to pass the ball in for Budd Baublys, but the shot went right of goal.
Moreton Bay was getting frustrated and somewhat physical and this was evident with a Yellow card awarded to Billy Haynes after a foul tackle on Tom Whittaker in the 15th minute.
So it was fitting that only two minutes later, the first goal of the game came by Oli Williams intercepting the ball after a play-out from Moreton Bay’s GK, to pass through for Daniel Cuttler to place in the bottom right of the goal. (1-0)
The Fire were outplaying their opponents and putting Moreton Bay’s defence under a lot of pressure and their GK was forced into another great reaction save in the 19th minute.
Still in the hunt and only four minutes later in the 23rd minute, Oli Williams again put a perfect pass through for Tom Whittaker to run onto and finish past the GK. (2-0)
An interchange from the bench in the 29th minute saw Owen Brader keeping the Moreton Bay GK working with a few shots at goal over the next five minutes.
A fabulous cross from Kaelan Debbage just before half time found the head of Joseph Higginson, but the ball went straight to the keeper.
Fire kept up their intensity and work rate in the second half and within a minute Tom Whittaker tried to do a sneaky chip over the keeper, but unfortunately it went right of the goal. Moreton Bay finally got a shot away in the 38th minute, but GK Kurt Moore-Barnard saved this comfortably.
Some nice combination plays by the Fire was rewarded in the 40th minute, when a sweaty play by Owen Brader found Archie Waterson waiting to run onto the ball and finish clinically past the keeper. (3-0)
Budd Baublys was brilliant all game with his intensity, reading the play and moving the ball forward. A superb run in the 42nd minute saw Baublys beat several players, cut in and place a through ball for Tom Whittaker to drive into the back of the net. (4-0)
In the 44th minute, GK Kurt Moore-Barnard made sure of keeping a clean sheet, with a great reaction save from a shot within the six yard box to palm the ball off to his right.
An unfortunate incident in the 53rd minute, when Owen Brader did well to win the ball and pass through for Mackenar Bradfield to have a 1v1 with the GK, but an accidental trip by team-mate Tom Whittaker saw Bradfield tumble in front of goal.
Owen Brader was awarded a Yellow Card in the 54th minute for a foul tackle on a Moreton Bay player that was away with the ball on the right wing.
Another display of great football by the Fire as a team in the 58th minute; after a throw in on the left side by Daniel Rouillard, the ball was then worked through the midfield to beat several players and laid off to the right wing for Mackenar Bradfield to beat the keeper and the ball was shot but ran across the face of goal.
Kaelan Debbage was on point with his crosses and found the feet of Owen Brader in the 61st minute, but unfortunately the shot went to the left of goal.
Player of the Match: Budd Baublys
Under 15 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Moreton Bay United FC (2)
An important fixture for both sides on a cool and very windy day saw Fire in third place up against a quality Moreton Bay outfit currently sitting second; just a point above Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast started the match in good fashion with the midfield dominating both possession and field position; however the final pass wasn’t quite there to take advantage.
On 11 minutes Moreton Bay almost took the lead against the run of play, with a break out wide ending in a cross that was deflected towards goal by a Fire defender, but keeper Lachlan Bosworth pulled off a very good reaction save to keep scores level.
Some good play through the centre of the park was almost rewarded as a Tom Croft pass found Terone Wattedegara, who set up Mitchell Bridge, but his shot went just wide.
A corner on 17 minutes for Fire was well worked, releasing Tom Croft deep, but his header hit the crossbar and bounced out.
A good break from Kurtis Modlin on the left wing finally gave Sunshine Coast the lead they deserved as the speedy winger was bought down from behind inside the box. Tom Croft stepped up and placed the penalty low left past the keeper.
With the wind behind their backs, Fire continued to dominate proceedings but just couldn’t take advantage, with some scrambling defence and a lack of a final pass keeping the score down to just the single goal advantage at half time.
Against the wind in the second half, the match turned on its head as Moreton Bay began to dominate field position as the Fire defence struggled to play out with any fluidity.
Lachlan Bosworth was called into action three times in a 5-minute spell of pressure, but the Fire keeper did well on all occasions to keep the score at 1-0.
Eventually the pressure took its toll though and on 64 minutes Moreton Bay equalised after a loss of possession in the defensive third saw the ball fall to the Jets player on the edge of the area, and he turned well and drilled a shot into the bottom left corner.
A rare chance for Fire in the second half came as Kurtis Modlin headed just wide from a Mitch Bridge cross.
In the 75th minute Moreton Bay looked to have gotten the winner after Fire yet again put themselves under pressure playing out and the loss of possession allowed the Jets to break and score another well placed shot past Bosworth in the Fire goal.
Despite the setback the Fire players rallied well and showed the spirit that has seen them go on an 11 game unbeaten run. Some good play through the centre found Terone Wattedegara and his close in skills allowed him to dribble past the Jets defence before being bought down from behind just as he was shooting, giving Sunshine Coast their second penalty of the day. The resultant penalty was dispatched by Tom Croft for his second of the day and gave Fire a well-deserved point in a game played in tough conditions.
Player of the Match: Dane Dawson
Under 15 Girls
SWQ Thunder FC (0) v Sunshine Coast Fire (5)
*Not yet submitted
Under 16 Boys
Sunshine Coast Fire (2) v Moreton Bay United FC (1)
This was the re-scheduled washout home game from earlier in the season against Moreton Bay. Having only recently played them away on Mother’s Day, on that occasion Fire came from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 in a tense finish. Today’s game was a chance for either side to prove a point.
Today was also the Fire’s first game since May 17th and the boys showed good intent and enthusiasm in the warm up. Fire won the toss and kicked with the wind in the first half.
They showed that same enthusiasm from the kick off and after a minute Kobe Fuller on the left played a ball in behind the Moreton Bay defence for Jack Bowen to position himself in front of goal and find the net to make it 1-0 to the Fire.
This was further incentive for the Fire to take the game to Moreton Bay and it was encouraging to hear lots of chatter from the lads.
Jack Bowen had the chance to add another in the 4th minute but his shot went narrowly wide. In the 6th minute Callum Jones had a free kick well saved by the Moreton Bay goalkeeper diving to his right.
The momentum was with the Fire and Moreton Bay struggled to get into the game in a striking contrast to the recent Mother’s Day game.
In the 17th minute Sean Culpitt from defence found the head of Kobe Fuller who managed to head on for Matt Cann running into space. Matt’s precise first touch put himself through on goal and his clean finish netted his first for the season and the Fire’s second for the day to make it 2-0.
Fire had two more chances to score before half time. In the 28th minute Matt Cann had a chance to net his second when the Moreton Bay centre back played a misguided pass across his goal to the feet of Matt but Matt’s shot unfortunately was straight at the keeper. In the 38th minute Nick Kirkpatrick took advantage of a slip by the Moreton Bay defender and made a raid down the left but his cross was just out of reach of the hard working Matt Cann.
The score remained 2-0 at half time and Fire looked well in control.
Fire started the second half with the same intent but despite their good intentions the Fire could not maintain the intensity of the first half and the game became scrappy as both sides failed to play to expectations.
In the 52nd minute Moreton Bay won a free kick just outside the box. The low hard shot was goal bound but Josh Wall made a great low save to his left but the Fire defence failed to clear the loose ball. A Moreton Bay attacker reacted quicker and slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Josh Wall had little work to do in the first half but in the 62th minute Josh was again called into the action to come off his line to gather a speculative ball played forward with his arms raised above his head. The Moreton Bay attacker clattered into the exposed lower ribs and back of Josh with his shoulder and after a lengthy delay for treatment Josh was not able to continue.
James Beckman commendably stood in goals for Josh for the last 18 minutes of play and was later positive in coming off his line to clear the danger from a through ball. Fire had to reshuffle their defence and Abe Reeves moved into centre back for James.
Fire lost momentum and shape and took a little time to settle sufficiently to create some pressure going forward. In the final five minutes Fire mounted numerous attacks and won a number of corners looking for the elusive third goal to seal the win.
The score remained 2-1 to the Fire at full time and despite a poor second half showed determination and teamwork to secure all three points.
Player of the Match: Kobe Fuller
Youth Women
SWQ Thunder FC (0) v Sunshine Coast Fire (4)
The Fire team combined well from the start on a difficult bouncy pitch that had even the best pass bouncing up to knee height or off to one side. The Fire girls kept SWQ Thunder under constant pressure which paid dividends, the midfield worked well together to set up opportunities although at times could have taken the risk of putting an extra player forward to support the attacking moves.
The first goal came in the 17th minute, a ball was played up the centre through mid-field to Madi Warren who turned and beat the defender in a 1v1 to score an excellent goal.
Three minutes later a ball was crossed in from the right wing by Teyana where Jess Bender was well positioned in the goal area to receive and beat the keeper with a well-placed shot.
In the 17th minute of the second half the mid-field won the ball, played out to Brooke Matheson on the left wing who did well to cross under pressure where Madi Warren finished.
The fourth goal came after Keira Burgess won the ball deep in the Fire half and played through midfield to Brooke who made an excellent 1v1 run and finished with a powerful drive to beat the keeper.
Players of the Match: Jess Bender and Madi Warren
