Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Three
Queensland Academy of Sport v Sunshine Coast Fire
Kane Frampton – Staff Reporter
Three weeks into the season and the Sunshine Coast Fire have maintained their perfect record, running out 3-1 winners over the Queensland Academy of Sport on Saturday evening.
Second-half goals from Tyson Holmes and a double from Jason Hicks were enough for the Fire to register their third away win of the season, after QAS took the lead early in the first half through Kenneth Dougall.
Both sides looked keen to establish themselves early, with the Fire looking to control the centre of the park. An early chance came on six minutes when the Fire won a free-kick 20 yards out. Tyson Holmes opted to play a short ball to Dylan Roberts, who forced a reflex save out of QAS keeper Matthew Acton from close range.
Composed of some of the state’s brightest young prospects, the QAS side looked dangerous in attack. Mitch Cooper went close after 10 minutes, blasting an effort narrowly wide on his left boot.
With the home side continuing to press, the opening goal came on 15 minutes. A loose ball in defence failed to be cleared by the Fire, with Kenneth Dougall on hand to smash the ball past Antony Hall, who could only watch as it hit the back of the net.
It was the first goal conceded by the Fire in three fixtures, and spurred the side into action. Shaun Blackman got a head to an accurate Aaron Brazendale cross, but couldn’t steer the ball under the crossbar. Meanwhile, QAS were still threatening with direct play up forward, as Takanori Sato did well to block a goal-bound shot from Jayke Cuschieri.
Midway through the first half, attacking options were thin on the ground for the Fire as QAS dictated terms. A defensive lapse granted Holmes a one-on-one opportunity, but keeper Acton produced a fine block to keep out the Fire’s best chance of the match. Minutes later Holmes was put clean through again, but this time was forced wide and missed with a left-footed shot.
The Sunshine Coast were beginning to work their way into the contest, and Brazendale looked to have a good chance when he read Blackman’s flicked header well, but the flag was up for offside. Meanwhile, QAS went close to doubling the lead on the brink of half-time, when Jacob McLean spotted Hall off his line, but his chipped shot lacked accuracy.
Half-time came with the Fire in the unfamiliar position of being behind on the scoreboard. With the boys needing a spark, James Stinson and Leon Dwyer were brought on in an attempt to exploit the flanks, and livewire Jason Hicks was moved into a forward position to play off Shaun Blackman.
The move almost paid dividends early in the half, when Hicks hit an early cross to Blackman on six yards who tried to flick the ball past Acton, but the keeper was well-placed to make a block.
Fifteen minutes into the second half and Fire fans must have been wondering where the vital goal was going to come from, but they need not have worried. Hicks spotted a sizeable gap between the two QAS centre backs, and slipped the ball to Holmes, who coolly converted inside the left upright to level the scores.
With parity restored, the Sunshine Coast looked far more comfortable on the ball, and managed to hit the front only minutes later. Stinson broke quickly down the right wing, rounding the fullback and delivering a cross towards the far post. Acton rushed to cut it out but the ball only brushed his fingertips and fell kindly for Hicks, who found the net from a few yards out.
Stinson was again involved soon after, picking out Blackman with a corner kick, but the target man flicked his header just over the bar.
With things turning around for the Fire, QAS almost equalised from nowhere, when Elliot Ronto flashed a shot across the face of goal from a quick build-up. However up the other end, the Fire were really beginning to hit their attacking straps and killed off the contest with a third goal. Tidy work from Dylan Roberts released Hicks just inside the crowded penalty area, who balanced and beat Acton with a clean strike.
QAS had a chance to halve the deficit soon after, when a deflection bounced along the face of the Fire’s open goal, but no QAS player was on hand to tap it in. With full-time approaching, Brandon Borello tried his luck from 20 yards, but Hall made the block with ease.
Up the other end, Stinson went close to adding his own name to the scoresheet when he shot from an acute angle 20 yards out, putting a well-struck effort inches over the crossbar.
The whistle sounded for a 3-1 victory to the Fire, who came through with a flurry of goals when the side had their backs to the wall. With maximum points from three fixtures so far, early signs continue to be very promising for the side’s title defence.
Next week the Sunshine Coast will contest their first home fixture of the season, as they do battle with Southern Cross United. Kickoff for the Round 4 fixture is set for 2pm on Sunday April 3, at Stockland Park’s Western Fields.
FINAL SCORE: Sunshine Coast FC: 3 (Holmes, 61, Hicks, 64, 73)
Queensland Academy of Sport: 1 (Dougall, 15)
Starting Line-up
Hall, Knight (Henderson, 70), Henslee, Sato, Smith, Shibahashi (Dwyer 45), Roberts, Holmes, Hicks, Brazendale (Stinson, 45), Blackman.
