July 12, 2017
After a week’s break for the winter school vacation, all twelve Football South Burnett teams converged on the Burnett Street sports fields in Nanango last Saturday for another derby.
All three divisions of Gunners were lined up to play against Barambah’s Bears, while Nanango’s squads of Panthers took on Kingaroy’s Wests.
The day delivered its fair share of surprises and upsets, along with two injuries that required ambulance attention and forced a forfeit in the clash between the lady Panthers and Wests.
But spectators were rewarded with a good day of fast-paced football.
And with just four more weeks of play left before the competition moves into the finals season, all the teams are now in very tight shape.
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In the clash between Barambah and Gunners, the two teams agreed to make a last-minute change to the schedule.
The 1st Division match was played at the start of the day, and the 2nd Division match was shunted to last.
Reason?
Due to a player shortage most of Barambah’s male players take to the field for both contests, and are usually so tired by the time the 1st Division game hits the park they get trounced by their opponents – a dispiriting outcome for players and spectators alike.
So on Saturday the Bears’ side got the chance to show how well they can really play in the competition’s top level when they’re as fresh as their opponents.
And the mighty northerners did not disappoint.
The Bears delivered a thumping 4-nil thrashing to Gunners – a surprise outcome, given that Gunners’ 1st Division squad are currently sitting second on the ladder.
The result was as much a morale-booster for the Bears as it was a shock for the purple and golds.
But the match was much tighter than the scoreline might suggest, with Gunners putting up a mighty effort for the full 90 minutes and refusing to let their heads drop as the Bears’ extended their lead.
The Bears, for their part, managed to capitalise on the few opportunities that came their way.
And they had to fight for every one of them.
* * *
In the Ladies competition Barambah also defeated the Gunnettes, though the 1-nil result was a lot closer than the day’s opener.
In fact, the match could well have wound up in a draw right up to the final minute.
Both sides were evenly matched and the plucky Gunnettes showed they’ve improved quite a lot as the season has progressed.
While anything can happen in football – and usually does – it seems likely at the moment that both teams will face off against one another in the finals season.
But which one will emerge triumphant is something that remains to be seen.
* * *
In the deferred 2nd Division game, both teams wound up sharing the points in a 1-all draw.
Barambah fielded the same side that had secured their mighty 1st Division win earlier in the day, while Gunners put on a fresh squad that was missing six players.
The play-off between the tired Bears and under-manned Gunners led to a nil-all result going into half time, with neither side able to find the back of their opponents’ nets.
But just minutes into the second half, it was the Bears who opened their account first.
This seemed to galvanise Gunners, who redoubled their efforts.
And not long afterwards they opened their account, too, with a blistering strike against the flow of play in the 60th minute that caught the Bears by surprise.
After this the match returned to being an arm wrestle, with neither side able to find a hole in the opposing side’s defences.
Neither side appeared disappointed with the outcome.
Barambah enjoyed a successful day, securing the points in the first two of their three contests and sharing the points in the last match.
Gunners, for their part, may have only been able to add a point to their season’s tally, but they got to see how well they could hold up against a fresh Bears side and no doubt picked up clues about holes in their game play they still need to plug before mid-August.
* * *
In the matches between Panthers and Wests running on a second field at the Burnett Street sports grounds, the normal system prevailed with the 2nd Division squads lifting the curtain on the day.
Wests wound up making mincemeat of Nanango’s 2nd Division squad, taking the points by delivering a 6-1 display of ball mastery that caught the Panthers flat-footed.
Ethan Schultz scored a hat trick for Wests, followed by Caleb Jenkins (2) and Joel Macri (1).
Panther Dimas Bakini managed to find the back of Wests’ net in reply, but he was a lone voice.
To be fair, the Panthers have battled solidly so far this season and continue to show signs of improvement from one week to the next.
However their lack of experienced, seasoned players has proven to be a weakness when they face the more experienced Barambah, Wests and Gunners sides.
On Saturday Wests proved yet again that age and cunning will beat youth and a bad haircut any day of the week, and they deserved their win.
* * *
The tide turned when the lady Panthers took to the field, though.
The Panthers have won five of the past six Women’s Division premierships and may well take out top honours in this year’s competition, too.
While there are many new faces in the 2017 side, the formidable coaching they’ve received from veteran Cass Kelly and other senior players appears to have paid off.
The lady Panthers were able to find the back of Wests’ nets three times before the game had to be forfeited due to on-field injuries, while Wests were only able to muster one strike in reply.
* * *
In the 1st Division game, the story was much the same with the Panthers dishing out a 6-0 drubbing to Wests.
Veteran goal-scorer Kieran Mangan returned to his best form, sinking four rockets into the back of Wests’ nets, ably assisted by Liam Greenslade and Jordane Saunders who scored one apiece.
As usual, the Panthers played the aggressive, fast-moving style of game that has kept them at the top for the past five years.
Wests put up a tremendous effort to resist them, and for the most part succeeded in foiling or deflecting many Panthers’ attacks that could have made the scoreline much worse.
But they were unable to break the big cats’ defences when they had possession, and were let down by an inability to finish on several occasions.
Even so – despite the final scoreline – the battle between the two sides was exciting football to watch, and both teams deserve a big thumbs up for delivering it.
* * *
Round 11 Results:
Barambah v Gunners:
- 2nd Division: Barambah 1 – Gunners 1
- Women’s Division: Barambah 1 – Gunnettes 0
- 1st Division: Barambah 4 – Gunners 0
Nanango v Wests:
- 2nd Division: Wests 6 – Nanango 1
- Women’s Division: Nanango 3 – Wests 1 (match forfeited due to injury)
- 1st Division: Nanango 6 – Wests 0
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Next Week:
Barambah will play Wests at the Wondai Soccer Fields at the northern end of the Wondai Sportsgrounds next Saturday, July 15.
2nd Division will hit the park at 12:30pm, followed by the ladies at 2:00pm and 1st Division at 3:15pm.
At Tom Alford Oval in Oliver Bond Street, Kingaroy the Panthers will play their ancient enemies Gunners.
2nd Division will toe the turf at 2:00pm, ladies at 3:30pm and 1st Division will play under lights at 5:00pm.
A canteen will be operating at both venues and spectators are always welcome.
