April 16, 2012

By Martin Stern from Football South Burnett

The 2012 Evolution Solar South Burnett Football League kicked off on the weekend with the first match of the season between Barambah and Wests at Murgon.

Wests were too good in the women’s match, beating Barambah 3 to 1 with two goals from Hayley Hunter and one from Keira Cronin for Wests and one by Elle Mollenhauer for Barambah.

Wests played beyond expectation with their new-look team. There were solid performances from Hayley Hunter and veteran Danielle Maudsley, and they proved to be the main difference between the two sides. But special mention must also go to Christy Murray, who put in her usual solid performance for Barambah.

In the 1st Division match, Wests took the lead with a Ryan Francis goal in only the second minute of the game as the Barambah defence opened up. Three minutes later Barambah made a break down the right hand flank and a free Chris O’Laughlin headed home an equaliser.

In the 10th minute, another Barambah attack resulted in a goal from Luke Miller who slotted home a shot from a narrow angle. And in the 14th minute Wests Marty Perrett scored from a long range shot to tie things up again.

The match was still very much in the balance, though, and much of the play centred on the midfield.

In the 43rd minute, Wests were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box; Marty Perrett tapped the ball to Harry Sterling who put it past the Barambah Keeper to make it 3-2.

Then just before half time the Barambah keeper Zanko Vukelic dislocated his shoulder and was taken from the ground by ambulance. Brad Vanderkolk took over the keeping position.

10 minutes into the second half Barambah was awarded a penalty after Jamie Neil was judged to have fouled Brendan Kelly. David Eagleson made no mistake with the shot to make it 3-3.

The second half was a tight, physical affair with both sides having opportunities. But in the end the score remained 3-3: a result that reflected the evenly matched nature of the teams.

Marty Perrett was Wests’ best player while Luke Miller was player of the match.

Then in Kingaroy on Sunday, the Gunners took on Nanango.

In second division, Nanango just outclassed Gunners 3-1.

In the women’s match, the points were shared in a 2-2 draw. The Gunnettes had 9 players to Nanango’s eleven but managed to go out to a 2-0 lead and Nanango were lucky to reel them back in to finish the game at 2-2.

In first division, the new-look Nanango side took to the park and attacked from the start. The young Gunners side defended well and it was Brendan Stern who made broke the deadlock after 15 minutes in his return to the Nanango club,

8 minutes later Chris Walters (who also made his return to the Nanango this season) put them 2-0 up. Nanango sustained the attack but couldn’t convert their chances.

In the second half, many were expecting the young Gunners side to capitulate but they stood their ground and held on. Nanango seemed to tire a little and 10 minutes out from full time Sam Murray scored a screamer for the Gunners who pushed hard to the end of the match.

However the day ultimately belonged to Nanango.

Best for Nanango were Daryl Adams and Jeff Frohloff while Ryan Mooney and Aaron Costanzo were the Gunners picks.

Results:

In Murgon 14.04.12
1st Division: Barambah 3 (Chris O’Loughlin, Luke Miller, David Eagleson) Wests 3 (Ryan Francis, Marty Perrett, Harry Sterling)
2nd Division: Barambah v Wests deferred to a later date TBA
Women: Barambah 1 (Elle Mollenhauer) Wests 3 (Hayley Hunter, Keira Cronin)

In Kingaroy 15.04.12
1st Division: Nanango 2 (Chris Walters, Brendan Stern) Gunners 1 (Sam Murray)
2nd Division: Nanango 3 (Bryan Reynolds, Nick Kraukzts, Trevor Adams) Gunners 1 (Aaron Costanzo)
Women: Nanango 2 (Cassie Kelly) Gunnettes 2 (Natasha Parsons)