Another heavy loss for Bundaberg
Monday, 22 June 2009
A drawn second half was at least something for Bundaberg Spirit to take out of another heavy loss in the Queensland State League, although it was little solace in a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Redlands City Devils at Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday night.
The Devils made a dream start with Chris Bale striking in the first minute, but the Spirit picked themselves up and matched their heavyweight rivals for the next 34 minutes.
However,
Redlands took a strangle-hold with a four-goal splurge in the space of nine minutes leading into the break.
Firstly, Graham Fyfe found the back of the net in the 35th minute, before the Devils turned up the heat with three more goals at three-minute intervals, with Bale and Fyfe in turn completing doubles, then Anthony Paolino joining the party.
They went further ahead, courtesy of Jesse Lindemann on the hour, but to their credit, the Spirit never threw in the towel and they eventually came up with a deserved but consolation goal via Matt Timbrell in the 86th minute.
Spirit coach Brett Hambrecht was pleased with their performance, although he was at a loss to explain how the Devils managed to establish a five-goal lead by half-time, although momentum is a hard thing to stop.
“They got their first goal really quick but we did all right in the first half and I’m not sure how they got away with five, and I was definitely happy with the second half,’’ Hambrecht said.
“At half-time, one of the players, Mitch Hodgkinson, suggested that we change the formation a bit and play a flat four at the back, and we did that and it might have helped out a bit too.
“Ten to 15 minutes in (to the second half), I made some subs too - first Sam Simpson copped a knock to his left ankle and Matt Doolan came on. Five after that, Jack Hambrecht came off and Mitchell Broom went on, and five after again, Arian (Dubroy) came off and Elliot (Causer) went on, and all did their jobs.’’
Despite the score-line, Hambrecht named keeper Daniel Watson as again their best, but he was happy with every player.
“Watto had another really good game in goal, but everyone else was pretty solid,’’ he said.
“Even the
Redlands supporters and assistant coach came and spoke to me after the game, and they can’t believe the attitude the players have on and off the field – they love playing against us and they show us a lot of respect, which we also show them.
“The boys never give up for 90 minutes and try hard all the way, and they have earned the respect of other sides, coaches and players because of their sheer attitude on the park and the spirit they show.’’
Bundaberg will return home to take on equal-leaders Olympic next Saturday night and while it will be a tall order to achieve their first win of the season in that match, Hambrecht wants to compete strongly to build a platform from which to target a couple of wins against some of the other lower placed teams in the following weeks, and he is hoping that Simpson will be fit to take his place in the side.
“All we are concentrating on at the moment is Olympic next week – obviously it will be tough but if we turn up and play hard for 90 minutes, anything is possible,’’ he said.
Vince Habermann
