Hyundai Queensland State Youth League – Round Seventeen
Queensland Academy of Sport v Sunshine Coast Fire
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
The Sunshine Coast Fire have fallen to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Queensland Academy of Sport in Round 16 of the Hyundai Queensland State Youth League.
With Ryan Delahunty and Josh Taylor both playing for the senior team, the Fire were somewhat undermanned. Jonathan Rose came in to lead the line with Kaine Frew, with Rob McNicol and Rhys Roberts again playing central midfield.
QAS had the better of the match from the opening whistle, with Jayden Liddicoat wasting a great opportunity by lifting a shot over the bar from six yards. Scot Coulson had a chance inside the area moments later, but Andy Wood hacked the ball to safety for the Fire.
After 15 minutes, Rhys Roberts was given his marching orders for sliding into a tackle with both feet. With the team reduced to 10 men, coming away with a result was going to be difficult for the Fire.
After missing an early chance for QAS, Liddicoat made amends by collecting a pass from the right wing and burying the shot for a 1-0 lead. Minutes later the lead was doubled despite calls for offside, when Josh Riis ran onto a long ball on the left flank, dribbled into the penalty area and fired a shot inside the far post.
As the half wore on, the Fire were using their bigger bodies to gain possession, but struggling to transition into attack once they had the ball. QAS were posing a consistent threat on the counter-attack, and before long the score was 3-0 when Brandon Borello finished off a move well for QAS.
The Fire had a few opportunities from set pieces, when Jonathan Rose forced a save out of QAS keeper Jakob Smith from a free-kick. Kaine Frew also had a go from a free-kick, but lashed his shot into the wall.
As the half neared its end, Matthew Bevan and a QAS player both went for a loose ball and collided heavily, as both players went to ground with leg injuries. The referee called an early end to the half as stretchers were brought out for the players.
The Fire’s line-up was shuffled at half-time in an effort to get back into the contest. Jonathan Rose was moved to left back, with Andy Wood alone in the centre and Brad Wallace brought on to cover the right. Nick Roth came on to partner Rob McNicol in the middle of the park, and Cohen Bell joined Kaine Frew in leading the line.
In the opening minutes, the Fire maintained good intensity and managed some shots on goal.
QAS keeper Smith did well to save a shot from distance by Frew, and Cohen Bell headed just wide after rising well to meet a free-kick from James Verdin.
After 64 minutes, the Fire finally got on the scoresheet when a well-placed free-kick by Frew was parried by Smith. Luke Lewis was on hand to knock home the rebound and make the scores 3-1.
While QAS were still on top in the contest, the Sunshine Coast had given themselves a fighting chance and flooded forward looking for a second goal.
However, QAS had other ideas, and scored twice in quick succession through Kwame Yeboah and Josh Riis to race out to a 5-1 lead.
With the game now beyond their reach, the Fire tried to add their tally and created some late chances. Rob McNicol was unlucky to miss a goal from inside the penalty area. Then, a determined run from defence to attack by James Verdin almost yielded a goal for the Fire, but he held the ball a little too long and was dispossessed.
As full time neared, a classy finish from Kwame Yeboah pushed the score out to 6-1 for QAS, and it was to be the last goal of the match.
The final whistle sounded for a game that the Fire will likely want to forget, but considering the team was missing some of its first-choice personnel and was reduced to ten men, it was always going to be a tough ask to come away with a result.
Next week, the Fire will look to regain some pride as they take on the Gold Coast. Kickoff will be at 3.30pm on Sunday, July 18 in Kawana.
Final Score: Queensland Academy of Sport – 6 (Yeboah, 2, Riis, 2, Liddicoat, Borello)
Sunshine Coast FC – 1 (Lewis)
