AFTER last week’s 3-3 draw with competition leaders Sunshine Coast Fire, Bundaberg Toyota Spirit coach Richard Mitchell’s belief that they can match it with anyone in the Hyundai State League is finally vindicated.
But after back-to-back draws, also against Whitsunday Miners, both games that they could have won, with only seven rounds to go, it is just about now or never if they are to achieve their goal for the rest of the season of climbing their way off the bottom of the ladder.
Despite being at home at Martens Oval for the third week in a row this Saturday night, their task will not be easy against North Queensland Razorbacks, whom Mitchell regards as the form team of the League at the moment, especially after inflicting the Fire’s only loss of 2010 so far a fortnight ago.
“We drew with them nil-all in the season opener, but they gave us a touch-up last time, winning 5-2, but we are a much better team now with (National Youth League loan players) ‘Jamie Oliver’ (Nick Fitzgerald), big Olly (Adam Ormsby) and Roger (Ray Miller – they have given us a wee injection of class and confidence, and everyone wants to emulate them, and if we can get another two goals at home, we should be able to get a result,’’ Mitchell said.
Suspended duo Tom Kimber and Cory Haack will miss the match, while Aaron Bakker and Mathew Mills are each also absent due to personal commitments, and one of their Senior pumping hearts, Laurie Stephensen, and Miller each did not train on Tuesday night as they battle injuries, but Mitchell is hopeful both will get the green light to take to the field.
Mitchell will also talk to Jason De Papi’s club Across The Waves about him signing up as an invitational player to at least sit on the bench after his recent successful comeback in the local league after requiring major knee surgery when his superb last season with the Spirit was prematurely ended by injury.
Also with their Youth team having the bye this weekend, the Spirit will get a few of their young guns to also warm the bench and provide valuable back-up.
Mitchell said they again played “some good football’’ against Sunshine Coast, and that there was “a real buzz’’ about training on Tuesday night, and the overall mood and session were “quite exceptional’’, with captain Brett Kitching, who was a two-goal hero against the Coast, leading from the front as always, and everyone following his example.
“Our big goal at the moment is to catch the team above us (Capricorn Cougars), but we know it’s not going to be easy because we also know they don’t want the wooden spoon,’’ he said.
“We can definitely improve some things from last week – we conceded three goals but at least one of them, we could have defended better. We also failed to convert too many chances, but they did too. But we are certainly going in the right direction.’’
However, Bundaberg needs maximum points before next week’s ever tougher clash with Far North Queensland Bulls in Mareeba.
“We are running out of games to get results. We don’t want to finish bottom, and if we draw or lose, it is going to become almost impossible to get to the next level (seventh place), so now is the time,’’ Mitchell said.
Fitzgerald, Ormsby and Miller have done great work, helping out with coaching at the clubs since their arrivals in early June, and they have also been big hits with around 130 children during holiday coaching clinics over the past week.
As a result of both this and the team’s emergence as a genuine force, Mitchell is expecting an even bigger crowd and plenty of vocal support, and that they will help lift his players to even greater heights and what would be a famous and deserved victory.
