May 19, 2014
By Martin Stern
Football South Burnett
Barambah travelled to Kingaroy on Saturday to take on the improving Wests team while the Panthers took on Gunners in Nanango.
There were only two matches in Kingaroy this weekend as the women’s match was postponed.
The Second Division leaders were looking to get back into the winner’s circle after defeats from Nanango in the President’s Cup and the last round, and Wests were looking to cause the upset.
Barambah welcomed back Joel Sommerfeld who is home temporarily from his football scholarship in the USA. Marty Perrett made a return for Wests coming back from injury.
The first half was fairly even but with Wests having the majority of possession, they pressed the Barambah defence but could not get on the score board.
In the second half, Wests continued their attack. Five minutes into the half, Trent Faunt scored in a crowded goal box from the ensuing corner kick.
Wests continued to play well and worked hard in the midfield. Barambah had their chances, too, but were very flat on the day. Wests upsetting Barambah 1-0.
Best on the park were Lindsay Cotter, John Litzow and Marty Perrett for Wests; and Ryan Nicholson, Matt Davidson and Adrian Niemann for Barambah.
* * *
In First Division, Wests were full of confidence after their win over Gunners the previous week.
Wests and Barambah matches are always close games and this one was no exception.
The game was a battle of the midfields with Brandon Walsh from Wests and Sheldon Livingston from Barambah leading the way.
In the 21st minute, Wests cut through the Barambah defence and Ryan Zeller scored with his first touch in First Grade.
Eight minutes later Thomas Carroll put Wests two in front when he blasted a shot through a crowded penalty area.
Barambah came out and played more intensely in the second half while Wests dropped a little.
Sheldon Livingston gave the Barambah forwards plenty of ball but with all the chances they got, could not buy a goal. Shots went wide or were saved and tidied up by Wests’ goalkeeper Ryan Kelly.
In the 81st minute, Brendon Smith put Wests further ahead, however Barambah fought hard to the final whistle.
Wests had recorded their second victory in a row and their second for the season in a hugely improved performance.
The score did not really indicate the closeness of the game in which Barambah’s finishing let them down.
Wests have now moved off the bottom of the table on goal differences, leaving Gunners languishing at the bottom.
Best on the park for Wests were Brandon Walsh, Russ Hutfield and Thomas Carroll while Sheldon Livingston, Jayden Mollenhauer and Joel Sommerfeld were Barambah’s best.
* * *
The women’s match between Wests and Barambah was postponed until Wednesday, June 25, at 6:30pm in Kingaroy.
* * *
In Nanango, the Panthers continued their winning ways with a clean sweep over Gunners in all three grades.
Congratulations to Gunnettes who scored their first goal of the season through Danielle Janz.
The side has been worked hard under the guidance of Tracey Clegg and has stuck to it after enduring some heavy defeats and lack of numbers.
* * *
There’s no matches next weekend due to the Queen’s Birthday holiday. However, the Men’s and Women’s South Burnett rep teams will be heading to Toowoomba for the South West Queensland Zone Championships.
* * *
Results:
In Nanango
- Division 1: Nanango 2 (Kieran Mangan 51st, Elliot Mangan 68th) defeated Gunners 0
- Women: Nanango 3 (Cassie Kelly 41st, 52nd; Jacquie Downie 62nd) defeated Gunnettes 1 (Danielle Janz 8th)
- Division 2: Nanango 3 (Ayden Connolly 10th, 52nd) defeated Gunners 1 (Jospeh Copas 5th)
In Kingaroy
- Division 1: Wests 3 (Ryan Zeller 21st, Thomas Carroll 29th, Brendon Smith 81st) defeated Barambah 0
- Division 2: Wests 1 (Trent Faunt 45th) defeated Barambah 0
- Women’s match to be played June 25.
[UPDATED with correction]
