Bundy battlers fall to Miners
Monday, 06 April 2009
Bundaberg Spirit scored the opening goal of the match for the second week in a row, but in the end, it was the same old story in their bottom-of-the-table home clash with Whitsunday Miners – another crushing loss, 6-1.
Going into the match with a depleted side and with a care-taker coach in Richard Mitchell after the resignation of club foundation mentor Lynn Hodgkinson earlier in the week, 17-year-old striker Arian Dubroy raised spirits and put them in the driver’s seat with his first State League goal in the 12th minute.
They continued to look good and the Miners had to dig deep for the equaliser which came 10 minutes later with their former Wynnum Wolves and Northern Spirit ace and 2008 Golden Boot Michael Van Moolenbroek finally breaking through for his first goal of the new season.
The 25-year-old struck again six minutes on, and when he completed a personal hat-trick in the 62nd minute, the Spirit was all but broken.
Their fate was sealed soon after with defender Jason De Papi red-carded for a crude tackle, and against 10 men, the Miners went for the kill, with two more goals in quick succession, to Mark Rhodes and Brett Rebetze.
Far from flying the white flag, Bundaberg never stopped trying, and they engineered several more cracking shots at goal of their own with inspirational captain Brett Kitching and his 2008 deputy Laurie Stephenson, who returned from the local league to help out for one match with four of their top players missing for a range of reasons, doing everything in their power to lift the side, but Whitsunday also rallied in defence to protect their lead.
In another cruel blow to the Spirit, Rhodes added further salt to their wounds with his second goal in the 90th minute but spectators were bewildered how it was allowed as he appeared to be about two metres off-side.
Despite being without several key men, Kitching believes they could have done much better, and he was dejected with a result which leaves them as the only team without a win this season.
“Our start was brilliant – it was the same story as last week – we were on top for the first 20 minutes, but they got on top with their second goal just before half-time, and I was definitely disappointed with our second half again,’’ Kitching said.
“Possession let us down – we did some good things but we gave it away far too often and we have to work at keeping the ball – we were caught on the break a lot.’’
Kitching lauded Dubroy for his work-rate but is looking forward to the Easter break to lick their wounds and the return of their 2008 Player of the Year and Players’ Player Andy Wood to give them the defensive edge they have been missing for their next match against the QAS on Saturday week.
“We tried a different formation and Arian up front worked his back-side off, and his confidence will grow with that goal,’’ he said.
“But we will welcome back Woody – he will be a huge asset at the back with his organisation and composure.’’
Coach Mitchell admitted the team is presently doing it tough but he was able to take some positives out of the game.
“Overall they were the better side and everything they touched turned to gold – their shots were missiles – but in the first half, we were every bit as good as them and we created some good chances, but unfortunately too often when we won it, they were not quality balls,’’ Mitchell said.
Mitchell made special mention of the performance of central-defender Sam Simpson, and he is certain if the players keep their heads up and they keep working hard, their fortunes will change.
“Big Homer (Simpson) did okay, and early on, Matt Timbrell showed a bit of promise, and in all honesty, we battled on quite well, but we do that all the time,’’ he said.
“Obviously we are in a slump at the moment and there’s no easy way out, but I am certainly going to put my shoulder to the wheel and I hope the lads come down on Tuesday with a bit of spring in their step, focusing on our next game – once we win our first game of football, things will change.’’
Vince Habermann
They continued to look good and the Miners had to dig deep for the equaliser which came 10 minutes later with their former Wynnum Wolves and Northern Spirit ace and 2008 Golden Boot Michael Van Moolenbroek finally breaking through for his first goal of the new season.
The 25-year-old struck again six minutes on, and when he completed a personal hat-trick in the 62nd minute, the Spirit was all but broken.
Their fate was sealed soon after with defender Jason De Papi red-carded for a crude tackle, and against 10 men, the Miners went for the kill, with two more goals in quick succession, to Mark Rhodes and Brett Rebetze.
Far from flying the white flag, Bundaberg never stopped trying, and they engineered several more cracking shots at goal of their own with inspirational captain Brett Kitching and his 2008 deputy Laurie Stephenson, who returned from the local league to help out for one match with four of their top players missing for a range of reasons, doing everything in their power to lift the side, but Whitsunday also rallied in defence to protect their lead.
In another cruel blow to the Spirit, Rhodes added further salt to their wounds with his second goal in the 90th minute but spectators were bewildered how it was allowed as he appeared to be about two metres off-side.
Despite being without several key men, Kitching believes they could have done much better, and he was dejected with a result which leaves them as the only team without a win this season.
“Our start was brilliant – it was the same story as last week – we were on top for the first 20 minutes, but they got on top with their second goal just before half-time, and I was definitely disappointed with our second half again,’’ Kitching said.
“Possession let us down – we did some good things but we gave it away far too often and we have to work at keeping the ball – we were caught on the break a lot.’’
Kitching lauded Dubroy for his work-rate but is looking forward to the Easter break to lick their wounds and the return of their 2008 Player of the Year and Players’ Player Andy Wood to give them the defensive edge they have been missing for their next match against the QAS on Saturday week.
“We tried a different formation and Arian up front worked his back-side off, and his confidence will grow with that goal,’’ he said.
“But we will welcome back Woody – he will be a huge asset at the back with his organisation and composure.’’
Coach Mitchell admitted the team is presently doing it tough but he was able to take some positives out of the game.
“Overall they were the better side and everything they touched turned to gold – their shots were missiles – but in the first half, we were every bit as good as them and we created some good chances, but unfortunately too often when we won it, they were not quality balls,’’ Mitchell said.
Mitchell made special mention of the performance of central-defender Sam Simpson, and he is certain if the players keep their heads up and they keep working hard, their fortunes will change.
“Big Homer (Simpson) did okay, and early on, Matt Timbrell showed a bit of promise, and in all honesty, we battled on quite well, but we do that all the time,’’ he said.
“Obviously we are in a slump at the moment and there’s no easy way out, but I am certainly going to put my shoulder to the wheel and I hope the lads come down on Tuesday with a bit of spring in their step, focusing on our next game – once we win our first game of football, things will change.’’
Vince Habermann
