QSL CLUB profile

Bundaberg Spirit Captain Brett Kitching with young gun John Cullen.

Round 21 Review

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

A SERIOUS knee injury suffered by Sydney FC Youth loan player Ray Miller early in the match dampened their spirits but nothing could diminish their enthusiasm and endeavour as Bundaberg Toyota Spirit served it up to Hyundai State League champions Sunshine Coast in their last-round clash on Sunday.

But their story was one of déjà vu as they again created many chances but failed to capitalise, while the Fire showed why they are the top of the league, keeping another clean sheet and getting home 2-0 on the back of twin strikes by Japanese J League player Yuta Gonai in the 46^th and 57^th minutes.

Miller was a sorry figure as he hobbled around on crutches after the game, and after being diagnosed with suspected meniscus and ligament damage to his knee, he could only hope that the injury was not as bad as first thought.

The 20-year-old flew home to Sydney yesterday and had been scheduled to trial for another season with Sydney this week.

“But I’ll have to see how much this sets me back, and I’ll go from there,’’ Miller said.

Miller said he has thoroughly enjoyed his 10-week stint with the Spirit and he is “nearly 100% certain to be back next year for another season with the club.

Captain Brett Kitching, Head Coach Richard Mitchell and Assistant Coach Tony Roebuck were again all pleased with the effort but disappointed with the outcome.

“We wanted to win but it just sums up our year - we battled well and we can definitely hold our heads high and we can take a lot out of it considering they are the benchmark of the league,’’ Kitching said.

Roebuck described it as a “great effort’’.

“Even two-nil down, I’m proud of them - we certainly had our chances and the boys stuck it to them and didn’t give up to the final whistle – keeping a clean sheet playing against the wind in the first half put us in good stead for the second half, but in the end, two ‘average’ goals were all that was in it,’’ Roebuck said.

“The boys put in a good shift but the chances didn’t go our way, but I couldn’t fault the lads,’’ Mitchell added.

“We have certainly improved in the second half of the season, and for me, the season is not ended – it is just starting and we’ll come back bigger, better and stronger next season.’’

Roebuck named Kitching as again their best.

“Kitchy is a real warrior – he just gives his all all the time, and him and Lozza (Laurie Stephenson) battled well in the midfield, and Fitzy (Nick Fitzgerald) also ran hard up front.’’

The Spirit were also beaten by the Fire 2-0 in their Youth League showdown but their coach Steve Bates said they could also hold their heads high after a very competitive performance.

“We had the wind in the first half and we had to score with it, and we had our opportunities but couldn’t quite do it,’’ Bates said.

“We were the first to get the ball into the back of the net five minutes into the second half, but unfortunately the linie deemed it to be off-side, then two minutes after that they scored, and they scored again in about the 70^th minute, and that was it.

“The boys played extremely well and they were very courageous and they showed the ability to compete at this higher level. Sunny Coast were definitely the strongest side on the park but considering the quantity of goals they scored against us in the first two rounds, to be only 2-0 down is a pretty reasonable result, and it probably re-enforces to the boys how competitive we can be against the top teams.

“Their first goal from a header from a free kick was an absolute cracker which probably not even Mark Schwarzer would have saved.’’

Bates named Luke Leggett as their best once again.

“Lukey has been out for two weeks with injury and he had to play on pain-killers and virtually one foot, but he played a tremendous role for us up front,’’ he said.

“Brendan Davis had another good game as well, and the midfield was shored up by Josh Metto (Metcalf), and down the back, obviously Michael Coleman and Jacob Miles had to work very hard and they also did good jobs.

“We only played one goal-keeper, Daniel Smith, and he did a great job in goal – he made some great saves but was maybe let down a bit by some of his defensive team-mates.

“We have put a strong off-season and pre-season program in place and we will work at hitting the park running and our first goal in the new season will be to play 90 minutes of football.’’

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2008

Bundaberg Spirit

Contact:
Terry Gardner
Mobile:
0407 963 328
Home Ground:
Marten Oval
Address:
Miller Street, Bundaberg
Website:
footballbundaberg.com.au

Adult:	$5.00
13 - 18 yrs:	$2.50
Concession:	$2.50
Under 12's:	FREE
Family Passes:	N/A
Season Tickets:	N/A
Supporters Packages:	N/A

Round 21

Bundaberg Spirit [0]
Sunshine Coast FC [2]

Round 20

Whitsunday Miners [2]
Bundaberg Spirit [2]

Round 19

Bundaberg Spirit [0]
Brisbane Strikers FC [3]

Richard Mitchell Head Coach	Tony Roebuck Assistant Coach	Peter Hubbard Manager	Brett Kitching Midfield (Captain)	Roger Kimber Sports Medicine
Aaron Bakker	Adam Ormsby	Arian Dubroy	Corey Haack	Elliott Causer
Jack Hambrecht Midfield	Jason McEwan	John Brillante	John Cullen	Laurie Stephenson
Lucas Read	Mathew Mills	Nick Fitzgerald	Ray Miller	Tom Kimber

* = Invitational Player

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