Spirit lose to high fying Olympic
Monday, 30 March 2009
When captain Brett Kitching struck for Bundaberg Spirit’s first goal of the season, giving them the lead in their State League David and Goliath clash with high-fliers Olympic at Yeronga on Saturday night, they appeared in with a chance.
But sadly it was just an aberration as the hosts equalised through their star Nigerian recruit Nzube Okafor just four minutes later, before going on to establish a 3-1 half-time lead and adding a further five unanswered goals in the second stanza.
Okafor finished with a hat-trick of goals, while Andrew Oar bagged a double, with the difference in class and depth between the two sides becoming increasingly evident as the game progressed.
Spirit coach Lynn Hodgkinson again lauded his players for their efforts, but he admitted they are in a different league to the top clubs.
“We dominated for the first quarter of the game and their coach (Bobby Hamilton) said after the game we were the better side up to that point, but we lacked discipline and let them back into it,’’ Hodgkinson said.
“We also started the second half very well and should have had a second goal, but a minute later, they went 4-1 ahead and it deteriorated for us from there.
“I had to replace Shane Youngberry and Mitch Hancock due to injuries after about 15 minutes in the second half, and after that, we basically lost the plot.’’
Hodgkinson described Kitching’s goal as “excellent’’ but can only hope that at least one of their star Solomon Islands signings finally receives his visa in the near future to provide a much needed boost to their experience and strike-power.
“The goal came in a passage of play when we were moving the ball around very well and Kitch found himself in front of goal and he managed to wrong-foot the keeper, and we were cock-a-hoop at that stage,’’ he said.
“But our main problem is that the likes of Olympic and other big clubs have gone to another level this year in terms of professionalism and recruitment and we can’t match them.
“I’m very proud of the players – they played their hearts out, but experience, as much as anything, or lack of it, is costing us.
“I’m very concerned about throwing 15-year-olds in the deep end before they are ready – it’s not that they don’t have the ability, but they lack the awareness and experience to do certain things in certain circumstances, but there’s not much we can do about it at the moment.’’
Despite Kitching scoring in another robust all-round performance, Hodgkinson named defender Sam Simpson as their best.
“Kitchy and Mitch Hodgkinson worked very hard in the circumstances, as did Jason De Papi, and Matt Timbrell worked very hard and could have had a few goals,’’ he said.
“But Sam was probably our stand-out again – he loses nothing in comparison to another other centre-backs I’ve seen – he has his strengths and although he’s not as complete a player as some, he’s an excellent one-on-one defender and he matched motors with one very quick Olympic player on the night.’’
The Spirit’s task should be easier when they return home to take on Whitsunday this Saturday, with like them, the Miners having lost their three matches so far, but while their 2008 Player of the Year Andy Wood is due back from his overseas holiday, Hodgkinson fears that both Youngberry and Hancock could be in doubt.
“Both were limping very badly after the game – Shane carried an injury into the game and he is the one I’m most concerned about – Mitch hurt his knee in a collision with their keeper – and the last thing we need at the moment is to lose any more players to injury,’’ he said.
Vince Habermann
