QSL: Brisbane Strikers douse Fire

Brisbane Strikers all but secured the Queensland State League premiership on Sunday afternoon after defeating Sunshine Coast Fire 4-2 at a breezy Stockland Park.

The win was Brisbane's first on the Sunshine Coast in over three years but the league leaders did it the hard way - twice coming from behind to level the scores before overrunning their opponents in a fast, furious and fortuitous final few minutes.

The return of Perth Glory trialist Tyson Holmes and New Zealand Olympic representative Dakota Lucas bolstered Sunshine Coast’s attack but ultimately it was not enough to overcome a Strikers side that remain undefeated in their past fifteen matches.

Youth players Brady Cronk and DeeJay Firth scored the goals for Sunshine Coast, while Chay Hews, Alex Henderson, Nick Robinson and Matt Thurtell did the damage for Brisbane.

And although it was the visitors that came home with the wet sail in the windy conditions, Sunshine Coast enjoyed the better of the contest; dominating possession and field position courtesy of a high-pressing midfield that put paid to Brisbane’s usually fluid passing game.

Holmes, deployed in an attacking midfield role, impressed from the outset - twisting and turning out of tackles and fashioning four attempts at goal in the first five minutes. The pressure of this opening onslaught, which resulted in the game being played almost exclusively in the Strikers’ portion of the pitch, saw Sunshine Coast open the scoring in the tenth minute.

Lucas’ fierce drive from the right hand side cannoned back off the far post and into the path of the lurking Cronk. The unhurried youngster then took a composed touch before his shot stung the outstretched glove of Strikers keeper David Chambers before finding the net.

The Fire continued to forge chances throughout the opening half hour as Holmes remained heavily involved  while Lucas and fullbacks Alex Barlow and James Stinson forged a constant threat out wide.

Only the determined defending of the Strikers back four combined with the stoic goalkeeping of Chambers prevented the home side from extending their lead.

With fifteen minutes remaining in the half, Brisbane finally grafted a genuine scoring opportunity when Greg King combined with Michael Angus down the left touchline. King then skipped past the last defender before his close range shot forced Sunshine Coast goalkeeper Dale Hill into a spectacular reflex save.

Somewhat buoyed, the Strikers continued to push forward and five minutes later, after benefitting from their best period of the half, Chay Hews snared the equaliser.

Recollecting an initial corner kick Fire failed to adequately clear, King picked out the unmarked Hews at the top of the box with a pin-point pass; the experienced midfielder’s subsequent strike sent the ball skidding into bottom right hand corner of the goal.

Following the restart, Sunshine Coast regained the ascendency and ten minutes into the second half they'd restored their advantage courtesy of a contentious free kick against former Fire defender Henderson.

While the initial shot from the edge of the area was denied by the Brisbane wall, the deflection fell fortuitously for Firth on the opposite side of goal. The youngster’s ensuing effort taking a vicious deflection in the crowded penalty area that resulted in Chambers diving the wrong way.

Against the run of play, and determined to make amends for the foul that lead to the goal, it was Henderson that restored parity just on the hour.

The wind held up Hews’ corner kick invitingly at the far post for the big defender, who steamed in with gusto to head it home, skittling several Fire defenders in his wake.

Seemingly happy to settle for a draw, Brisbane sought to hold firm against the Fire’s repeated raids by readjusting their formation. However, despite the introduction of an additional defensive midfielder, they still remained vulnerable to Holmes’ irrepressible incursions into the box.

Resorting to mostly ineffectual counter attacks, Brisbane scored their third against the run of play - Sunshine Coast again failing to adequately clear the lines from a set piece.

Hews' free kick floated on the breeze and eventually fell to Chris di Sipio inside the area. The attacking midfielder adroitly avoided an advancing defender before hitting a miscued shot across the face of goal, his blushes saved by the lunging Robinson at the far post, who steered it in for an unlikely Strikers lead.

Throwing caution to the ever stiffening coastal wind, Sunshine Coast desperately sought to salvage a point in the final minutes. As players committed forward, Thurtell, who'd hitherto been man-marked out of the contest by Fire captain Greig Henslee, was afforded space for the first time all afternoon. Space that Thurtell spectacularly ignored.

Taking possession of a loose ball thirty yards out, and with an open path to goal before him, Thurtell struck an unexpected but expertly weighted shot that defied the breeze to dip over the scrambling Hill and under the cross bar to seal the points for Brisbane.