IT has been a tough past month for Bundaberg Toyota Spirit, having 19 goals put past them in their last four matches, and their opponents this week, Far North Queensland Bulls, are another team with plenty of fire-power.

But their ever positive coach Richard Mitchell is again confident they can reverse the tide and cause an upset in their Hyundai Queensland State League duel at Martens Oval tomorrow night.

The Bulls are sitting in fourth position with a 4-4 win-loss record, they have amassed 17 goals to the Spirit’s five, and they have two players in the Golden Boot Tally top seven with David Ruiz having six goals to his credit, just one fewer than joint-leaders David Mayes and Matthew Thurtell, and Josiah Rusch who has struck four times so far.

They also were far from disgraced in a 2-0 loss to high flying Sunshine Coast last weekend, but before that, they had leaked goals and they have had 19 against, and they beat the Spirit just 2-1 at home on 4th April.

Mitchell also detected some encouraging signs in his side’s 5-2 loss to NQ Razorbacks in Townsville last Saturday night.

He will field a very similar side tomorrow with Jack Hambrecht rewarded for his very good form in the Youth League by being promoted to the top League, but Shane Youngberry unavailable due to work commitments and Brendan Davis returning to the Youth side despite playing “quite well’’ against the Razorbacks.
“Aaron Bakker didn’t train last night because of a groin injury but he will be fine – Jack Hambrecht has earnt his spot – he played for us last year but the boy didn’t get picked in the original squad this year but he never spat his dummy and he has trained hard and is playing well,’’ Mitchell said.

“We have got a squad of 12 but will name our 12th man on Saturday and also have a look at the Under-19’s play and get a few of them to sit on the bench.
“And with what we have got on the park, we will do all right – the boys trained well again, and I can never complain about that – their training, their attitude and everything else that goes with it is great – they don’t short-change themselves and they don’t short-change me.’’

Mitchell said Laurie Stephenson and captain Brett Kitching were outstanding against NQ and he believes they could be the architects of a win if they can repeat their efforts.

“They and Lucas Read and, to a lesser extent, Aaron Bakker, are the Warriors of the side and I would like to think they can lift the boys again – if they do again what they did last week, I will be happy,’’ he said.

“I am hoping we can turn the corner this week – they (FNQ) are a very attacking side and I think we will see goals, but if we score one more than them, I’ll be happy.

“Our supporters have been great and I really want to give them something to cheer about, and so do the boys – we are very appreciative of them.’’
The Spirit’s Youth team, who have been refreshed by the bye, will also attempt to return to the winners’ list when they take on Logan Strikers earlier in the program.