By Martin Stern
Football South Burnett
July 14, 2014
With only four weeks to go in this year’s competition, all teams are looking for advantages going into the semi-finals.
Nanango have already sewn up the Minor 1st Division Premiership, but a win for Barambah over Gunners would give them second place – and a second bite of the cherry – in the semis.
Meanwhile, Nanango’s women’s division squad were looking to consolidate their top spot in the Women’s Division, while in the 2nd Division, Nanango and Barambah are both chasing first place.
Given this scenario, the weekend’s matches held a lot of interest, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
Barambah travelled to Kingaroy to take on Gunners for their decider, while Wests travelled to Nanango to meet the Panthers on their home ground.
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Barambah Too Strong In Firsts
In the First Division match in Kingaroy between Barambah and Gunners, Gunners started the game in fine attacking style through Ike Silalat, but couldn’t get on the score sheet despite many attempts.
Barambah soaked up the pressure early and started forays into Gunners’ defensive zone.
This strategy paid off in the 18th minute when veteran striker Brendan Kelly latched on to a through ball and buried it into the back of the Gunners’ net.
Both sides had opportunities to score as the match was evenly poised.
In the 28th minute, Gunners were awarded a penalty.
Mitch Potter stepped up to take the kick and made no mistake.
This put both teams back on level pegging and each searched for a lead before half-time, but to no success.
The second half opened up a little more and the ball players soon found more space to be creative.
In the 70th minute, Barambah were awarded a free kick 20 metres out, and Jayden Mollenhauer blasted the free kick over the wall, hitting the underside of the Gunners’ cross bar and just dropping over the line for a goal.
Then four minutes later, Sheldon Livingstone put Barambah two ahead with a close range shot from a cross.
Both teams played good football but Barambah worked hard for a deserved win and guaranteed second place on the ladder.
Sheldon Livingstone was the standout player for Barambah while Ashley Burns and Jayden Mollenhauer both had great games.
For Gunners, Ike Silalat, Hayden Steen and Andrew Askin were the team’s best on the day.
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Barambah Downs Gunnettes
Last time these two teams met, the Gunnettes got their first win of the season.
But this time around was different, with Barambah having a full squad and Gunnettes being short.
Barambah went ahead in the 5th minute when Elle Mollenhauer ran onto a loose ball and made no mistake with the shot.
Barambah continued to raid the Gunnettes’ goal, and it was a combination of great goalkeeping from Rahab Murray and poor shot choice that kept Barambah out.
In the 23rd minute, Sarah Kemp decided to take on the Gunnettes’ defence by herself and beat several challenges to give Barambah a 2-0 lead.
The second half was much the same with Gunnettes on the back foot.
However, there were a few more counter attacks by them.
Then in the 50th minute Elle Mollenhauer found herself with plenty of space to run through and score her second goal.
And in the 69th minute Kristy Murray scored by going around the Gunnettes’ keeper.
Best for Barambah were Elle Mollenhauer, Michelle Howson and Kristy Murray.
For Gunnettes, it was Rahab Murray, Lucy Montgomery and Sharna Raddatz.
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Gunners Scare Barambah In Seconds
Barambah needed to win the 2nd Division game to stay in touch with Nanango on the ladder.
Gunners started the game off playing scrappy football and into Barambah’s hands.
In the 7th minute, Joel Sommerfeld pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Gunners set, and gave Barambah the lead.
Gunners had plenty of options going forward but blew their chances through poor decision making.
In the 28th minute, Barambah pressed forward and John Shaw got Barambah’s second.
Gunners pressed forward straight from the kick off and a handball in the Barambah penalty box gave Gunners a chance to get back into the game from a penalty.
However James Dundas’ shot sailed over the crossbar.
In the 37th minute Barambah were awarded a penalty for a hand ball.
Joel Sommerfeld’s attempt was saved by Ike Silalat but the kick was retaken as he moved off his line.
The second kick was successful and Barambah took a 3-0 lead into half time.
In the second half, Gunners came out with a few tactical changes and started to put pressure on the Barambah defence.
In the 59th minute, Callum Cook pulled one back for Gunners and in the 76th minute they scored again through Joseph Copas to give themselves a chance of salvaging a draw.
Unfortunately time ran out for Gunners and Barambah hung on to take the three points.
Daniel Jansen, Aaron Vanderkolk and Joel Sommerfeld were best on the park for Barambah.
Gunners’ best were Jack McBlane, Adrian Di Marco and Dale Warren.
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Nanango Complete Clean Sweep
In Nanango, the home team outplayed an undermanned Wests side 7-0 in First Division to continue on their winning way.
Nanango also took the points in Women’s Division and 2nd Division, holding Wests scoreless in both games.
In better news, though, it was great to see Nanango supply ball boys and girls for the match – well done kids!
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Full Results:
In Kingaroy:
- 2nd Division: Barambah 3 (Joel Sommerfeld 7th, 37th John Shaw 28th) – Gunners 2 (Callum Cook 59th, Joseph Copas 76th)
- Women’s Division: Barambah 4 (Elle Mollenhauer 5th, 50th Sarah Kemp 23rd, Kristy Murray 69th) – Gunnettes 0
- 1st Division: Barambah 3 (Brendan Kelly 18th, Jayden Mollenhauer 70th, Sheldon Livingstone 74th) – Gunners 1 (Mitch Potter 28th)
In Nanango:
- 2nd Division: Nanango 2 (Darrell Adams 22nd, Nick Krauksts 34th) – Wests 0
- Women’s Division: Nanango 2 (Cassie Kelly 65th Riley Campbell 67th) – Wests 0
- 1st Division: Nanango 7 (Kyron Tunstall 4th, Kieran Mangan 14th, 85th Elliot Mangan 27th, 43rd, Damien Walters 54th, Nick Krauksts 81st) – Wests 0
Women’s Catch Up Game:
- Wednesday, July 16, Murgon, 6:00pm – Barambah vs Wests
Next week’s games:
- Barambah vs Nanango in Murgon
- Gunners vs Wests in Kingaroy
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Photo Gallery – Panthers v Wests
Although I don’t have a blow-by-blow match report for this weekend’s games in Nanango, I do have a wonderful photo galley of the matches thanks to Clive Lowe Photography.
