May 12, 2014
By Martin Stern
Football South Burnett
Senior football returned to Wondai for the second time this season when Barambah hosted Gunners.
The First and Second Division matches were of real significance because the winners would be earning a place in next weekend’s President’s Cup.
Second Division has been reasonably close all season and Gunners were out to end Barambah’s undefeated run.
It wasn’t long before Barambah took the lead through Brendan Kelly in the 8th minute.
His goal seemed to wake Gunners up and they caught Barambah off guard soon afterwards, scoring three goals in as many minutes (Jack McBlane 11th, Gary Hanhold 13th and Callum Cook 14th).
It was then Barambah who scored again through Brendan Kelly in the 18th minute.
The rest of the half was mostly dominated by Barambah with a few counter attacks by Gunners.
However the score remained 3-2 to Gunners at halftime.
Two minutes into the second half, though, John Shaw equalised for Barambah and it was “game on!” again.
Both sides missed opportunities to go ahead until the 72nd minute when youngster Sam Kemp gave Barambah the lead.
Then Gunners were reduced to ten men as Hayden Steen was red-carded for foul language, and couldn’t recover.
Best for Barambah was Sam Kemp, Ryan Sommerfeld and David Stimpson.
Gunner’s best were Jordane Saunders, Callum Cook and Chris O’Rourke.
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Barambah were short of players once again in the women’s match against Gunnettes.
Barambah have been playing with reduced numbers for the last few weeks, and it’s cost them.
However it was Barambah who scored first through Elle Mollenhauer.
Both teams battled hard for the rest of the first half with few scoring chances.
Seven minutes into the second half, it was Mollenhauer who struck again for Barambah.
The second goal really ignited the home team and they were rewarded again as Elle Mollenhauer recorded her second hat trick of the season in the 52nd minute.
It was Barambah’s second win of the season, while Gunnettes are still without a win and without a goal.
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In First Division, Barambah were looking for a win against Gunners, who had a narrow one point lead in the competition table going into Saturday’s game.
A win would also mean a place for them in the President’s Cup Final.
But Gunners were equally desperate to win and secure the chance of defending their 2013 President’s Cup title – so it was obviously going to be a hard-fought match.
Both teams battled for control early on, with the action going end to end.
Then in the 14th minute Luke Miller beat Gunners’ keeper Hayden Mashford with a stunning header from a well-placed cross.
The match again continued at a fast pace, and with a little more possession Gunners equalised through Torren Anderton in the 20th minute.
Both teams then slogged it out for the remainder of the first half with only a few chances.
But four minutes into the second half Chris O’Loughlin put Barambah ahead again with a nicely taken shot from just inside the box.
There were many fouls in the second half as desperation built between the two sides.
Then in the 60th minute, Torren Anderton and Luke Vandenberg were given their second yellow cards and sent off, which suddenly reduced Gunners to nine players.
Instead of letting their heads drop, though, Gunners lifted their game as many teams do with reduced numbers and had good chances to equalise on many occasions.
But Barambah held on and in the 79th minute Jayden Mollenhauer dashed Gunners’ hopes with a screamer from 25 metres out.
Barambah were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute after a player was brought down in the box.
Jayden Mollenhauer hit the shot hard and low but right to Hayden Mashford’s feet, who saved it.
The match ended with Barambah winning and moving into second spot.
They will now meet Nanango in the President’s Cup next weekend.
Gunners will have to go back to the drawing board. Poor discipline let them down this week but they are sure to be back to their best soon.
Best on the park for Barambah were Luke Miller, Chris O’Loughlin and Jayden Mollenhauer.
For Gunners, it was Hayden Mashford, Peter Collins and Darren Moseling.
PS: Saturday’s match was the first time in several years that Barambah has won all 3 grades – well done!
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The 2014 weekly competition will be taking a break next Saturday, May 17, for the Presidents Cup Finals in Kingaroy.
The format will be the same as last year after it proved to be a resounding success.
The President’s Cup is played between the two top teams in each division, calculated after the first two rounds where teams have played one another twice.
Last year’s President’s Cup provided a very exciting day of top-class football, along with a number of upset wins.
I hope to see a big crowd of football fans on the day.
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Results:
In Wondai:
- 2nd Division: Barambah 4 (Brendan Kelly 8th, 17th, John Shaw 42nd, Sam Kemp 72nd) defeated Gunners 3 (Jack McBlane 11th, Gary Hanhold 13th, Callum Cook 14th)
- Women’s Division: Barambah 3 (Elle Mollenhauer 6th, 42nd, 52nd) defeated Gunnettes 0
- 1st Division: Barambah 3 (Luke Miller 14th, Chris O’Loughlin 49th, Jayden Mollenhauer 79th) defeated Gunners 1 Torren Anderton 20th)
In Kingaroy:
- 2nd Division: Wests 0 drew with Nanango 0
- Women’s Division: Nanango 3 (Riley Campbell 10th, Jacqui Downie 34th, Raegan Campbell 68th) defeated Wests 0
- 1st Division: Nanango 6 (Kieran Mangan 10th, Thomas Mangan 12th, Own Goal 19th, Kyron Tunstall 31st, Elliot Mangan 75th, Damien Walters 78th) defeated Wests 1 (Gary Favier 42nd)
Next Saturday is President’s Cup Day in Kingaroy:
- 2:00pm: 2nd Division – Barambah v Nanango
- 4:00pm: Women’s Division – Nanango v Gunners
- 6:00pm: 1st Division – Nanango v Barambah
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