Hyundai Queensland State Youth League – Round Eighteen
Brisbane Strikers v Sunshine Coast Fire
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
The Sunshine Coast Fire have gone down 4-0 to a classy Brisbane Strikers outfit in Round 18 of the Hyundai Queensland State Youth League.
After the Fire conceded early, the Strikers were on top for most of the contest, although the Fire showed plenty of heart to play out the full 90 minutes at high intensity.
Chris Bacon played as the lone striker, with Kaine Frew and Cohen Bell on the wings. Luke Lewis, Brad Wallace and Nick Roth started in midfield, and Joe McMahon, Matthew Bevan, Rob McNicol and James Cooper made up the defensive line.
Things started on the right foot for the Fire, with the side looking hungry to make up for the last few weeks results. But after five minutes, the boys conceded in one of the Strikers first moves forward. Sam Nickolls and Jordon Farina rushed to meet a cross and collided on six yards, but Farina got a vital touch and watched the ball trickle into the net for the early advantage.
After the disappointing start, the Fire sought to recover straight away and keep moving the ball quickly. A well-worked move gave Bell a chance in the right of the penalty area, but Nielsen saved Bell’s low shot easily. Soon after, a neat long ball from McMahon found Bacon on the left wing, but Bacon’s final pass was cut out by the keeper.
Although the Strikers had the better of possession, the last line of defence was holding up well for the Fire. Bevan denied a one-on-one chance by sticking tight to his marker and forcing him to shoot wide.
On 26 minutes, an early cross from Bell found Bacon, who got a desperate touch on the ball that bounced slightly wide of the left upright. Next, some good work in the middle by Lewis set up Bell, who shot wide from distance.
As the play moved from end to end, the Strikers were looking potent in attack and doubled their lead on 35 minutes, again through Farina. As the Strikers converged on the Fire’s goal, Farina latched onto a rebound and slotted it in the bottom corner.
Only five minutes later, the score was 3-0 as Farina claimed a first-half hat-trick. This goal was the pick of the bunch, as he struck an unstoppable drive into the top corner from 20 yards.
As half-time approached, Brad Wallace had a shot from distance after a corner kick was cleared his way, but his shot went well over the bar.
Despite contesting well for much of the first half, the Fire headed to the break three goals down and would need to hit back quickly if they had any chance of a result.
After the break, the Sunshine Coast kept up their work-rate but struggled to hold onto the ball in the attacking third. On 50 minutes, the Strikers went four clear as Jason Doherty steamed into the penalty area one-on-one, rounded Nickolls and converted with minimum fuss.
But even while chasing an insurmountable lead, the Fire kept their work-rate up as the second half continued, and did some of their better work as the game came to a close. The boys looked certain to snatch a consolation on 75 minutes, when Verdin skinned his marker for pace on the left flank, cut inside and settled onto his left foot before hitting a shot inches high of the bar. Minutes later, Roth found a gap and prodded a shot just wide from outside the penalty area.
Late in the game, Matthew Bevan was issued a red card for bringing down the last defender, although he looked to have got a piece of the ball.
Rather than replacing Bevan, the Fire persevered with three defenders and kept pressing for a consolation goal. Lewis went close after he connected well with a half-volley, but Nielsen once again held the shot well in the Striker’s goal.
Full time came for a 4-0 defeat for the Fire, who next week face South West Queensland in a vital game for the teams finals prospects. Kickoff is at 3.30pm on Sunday, August 1, on Stockland Park’s Western Fields.
Final Score: Sunshine Coast FC – 0
Brisbane Strikers – 4
