So close for Bundy
Monday, 06 July 2009
It was a case of so near but yet so far for Bundaberg Spirit in their round 16 clash Whitsunday Miners in Mackay, but while a win continued to elude them, their effort to go down just 2-1 with five of their players missing was brave and it indicated that a breakthrough may not be far away.
With captain Brett Kitching, young guns Arian Dubroy, Mitchell Broom and Jason Loft, and the vastly experienced Matt Doolan all unable to play for different reasons, Bundaberg had to call on the services of Bingera duo Luke Metcalf and Scott McEwan to make the trip with 12 men.
But despite fielding a much depleted side for the bottom of the table clash, it was a game coach Brett Hambrecht had targeted for a drought-breaking win, and every player who suited up, lifted another gear and threw down the gauntlet to the Miners and very nearly came home with some points.
They drew first blood via Shane Youngberry midway through the first half, but the Miners equalised through Mark Rhodes just before half-time, then cruelly denied the Spirit with Andy Cygan scoring the winner around 15 minutes from the end.
Bundaberg tried valiantly to hit back, but it was not to be, although they did reclaim a bit of lost pride and command respect with a highly spirited performance.
Hambrecht was grateful to Metcalf and McEwan for helping out in their hour of need and also pleased with their contributions to the team effort.
“I’m really appreciative to them and the Bingera club for allowing them to travel, and Luke played really well in the defensive four, while Scott came on for 15 minutes towards the end and did everything asked of him too – we would have been in trouble without them,’’ Hambrecht said.
“With what we had out, it was a difficult task for the team but again, they didn’t give in, and they did what we had to do to the best of their ability.
“They really showed plenty of heart and you couldn’t fault their attitude – they all gave 100%, as they continue to do week-in-week-out.’’
Hambrecht named keeper Daniel Watson as their best once again.
“Watto (Watson) made three or four good saves which kept us in the game, but two of the younger players, Matt Timbrell and Jack Hambrecht, stepped up and played their best games for a while, and Elliot Causer started to fire up up front.
“Also Mitch Hodgkinson was a real lion-heart – he carried an injury into the game but played the whole 90 minutes.’’
The Spirit will return home to take on the Queensland Academy of Sport next Saturday with their side including two Bundaberg products, Josh Brillante and Koh Satake, and they will be hungry for victory as a 2-2 draw with Logan United yesterday leaves them in fifth position on the ladder, now four behind fourth-placed Redlands City Devils.
But while Hambrecht said Hodgkinson could be a doubtful starter with his lingering injury, he expects to be able to field a near-full strength side which will be needed if they are to take points off the Academy.
“I’m hoping Brett Kitching will be back, and I’m hoping to see Arian Dubroy, Mitch Broom and Jason Loft towards the end of the week by Thursday, and Matt Doolan should be back from his Chaplaincy work overseas, and if we can have everyone on deck and show the same desire as we did (yesterday), who knows what could happen,’’ he said.
Vince Habermann
Vince Habermann
