By Martin Stern
Football South Burnett
August 18, 2014
After a very nervous evening following heavy rain, the Murgon pitch was just passable on Sunday morning for the semi-finals of the Evolution Solar Football League competition
A sunny morning and the wind dried out the pitch as the day continued but parts remained a little soggy.
It’s a good social day for many as all clubs are present and many players and coaches from the past come out of the woodwork.
A big thank you to the Barambah Football Club volunteers that made the day a huge success. The face painting for the kids was a great idea, too!
Despite the setbacks, the day was a resounding success with a good crowd and some wonderful football being played. Also a big thanks to the referees who did an outstanding job all day.
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Div 2 Elimination Semi-Final – Gunners v Wests
Major Wins Minor Semi For Gunners
This was tipped to be one of the closer matches and the first half of the game was. However, in the second Gunners lifted their intensity and were rewarded just three minutes into the second half when Matthew Major scored from a beautifully played through ball from Gary Tessmann.
In the 56th minute Matthew Major chanced his arm with a shot from 20m out, finding the back of the net for the second time.
Gunners hemmed in Wests and they found it difficult to get into any attacking position. In the 59th, it was Major again who blasted a shot at goal which was pushed away by the Wests’ keeper, but Callum Cook was there to score off the rebound.
Veteran Dale Warren sealed Wests’ fate three minutes out from full time from a simple tap in after the Wests keeper spilled the ball.
Gunners can take a lot of confidence into their Preliminary Final and also look forward to the return of Steve and Joseph Copas.
As for Wests, this season has been a learning curve. Watch out for these youngsters next year.
Best on the park were Matthew Major for Gunners and Reilly Hutfield for Wests.
Gunners 4 (Matthew Major 43rd, 56th; Callum Cook 59th, Dale Warren 77th) defeated Wests 0
* * *
Div 2 Qualifying Semi-Final – Nanango v Barambah
Nanango Back In Form
After recent slumps, both these sides were desperate to improve their form and book a place in the Grand Final.
Nanango got on the scoreboard early when Cooper Radford put his team ahead in the 6th minute.
For much of the second half both teams had chances. Three minutes before half-time, Nick Krauksts gave Nanango a handy 2-0 lead.
Two minutes into the second half Karl Pichlis caught the Barambah defence off guard with a goal from 20 metres out.
Nanango were taking charge of the midfield through Nick Krauksts and Brice Connolly however in the 67th minute Sam Kemp pulled one back from Barambah, scoring from a beautiful cross from John Burton.
The Barambah comeback was short lived when Nick Krauksts scored his second for Nanango pouncing on a loose ball.
Nanango get a week off going directly into the Grand Final, while Barambah will have their work cut out against an in-form Gunners if they want any chance of defending their title.
Best on the park was Nick Krauksts for Nanango and Sam Kemp for Barambah.
Nanango 3 (Cooper Radford 6th, Nick Krauksts 37th, 74th Karl Pichlis 42nd) defeated Barambah 1 (Sam Kemp 67th)
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Women’s Elimination Semi Final – Gunnettes v Barambah
Gunnettes Upset Barambah In Thriller
After giving them little chance in my semi-final preview, it was a pleasant surprise to see Gunnettes play some good football and prove me wrong.
The game went to script early on with Barambah attacking and Gunnettes defending staunchly. But in the 14th minute Elle Mollenhauer found herself with an open goal and made no mistake, giving Barambah the lead.
Barambah continued to attack but were denied by some solid defence and some great goal keeping from Rahab Murray.
The second half was a similar story, but Gunnettes had started making inroads through some counter attack as the game went on.
It looked as though Barambah were going to hang on but with just seconds to go Corissa Raines equalised for Gunnettes, stunning the crowd and Barambah.
The game went into 20 minutes extra time with both sides having chances in a nail-biting finish.
No further goals were scored and it was Gunnettes that went on to win the dreaded penalty shoot out 3-1.
Best on the park were Sarah Kemp and Rahab Murray for Gunnettes.
Gunnettes 1 (Corissa Raines 70th) defeated Barambah 1 (Elle Mollenhauer 14th) – Gunnettes won 3-1 on penalties
* * *
Women’s Qualification Semi Final – Panthers v Wests
Wests Hold Onto Victory
As expected, this was a very close game.
Wests have stepped up their play from recent weeks and there was a return of some nice crisp passing which had been lacking.
There were few chances for either side in as the game turned into a midfield battle. It took a hard long range shot from Cassie Firman to put Wests ahead in the 30th minute.
While the game itself was even, it was Nanango that looked more likely to score as they searched for an equaliser.
Wests hung on by their fingernails with some solid defence from Danielle Maudsley and Chrissy McBride.
All in all, a good exhibition by both sides but it is Wests that have booked their place in the Grand Final while Nanango will have to face off against a Gunnettes side that has found some confidence.
Best on the park for Nanango was Jacqui Downie and for Wests, Danielle Maudsley.
Wests 1 (Cassie Firman 30th) defeated Nanango 0
* * *
Division 1 Elimination Semi-Final – Wests v Gunners
Wests Keep Dream Alive
The rivalry continued in this local derby elimination semi-final.
The match started out at breakneck speed, moving end to end. There were some great midfield battles particularly out wide.
In the 19th minute Gary Favier took half a chance just inside the penalty box to blast Wests to a 1-0 lead.
Gunners searched for an equaliser but were denied by some committed Wests’ defence.
In the second half, Gunners regrouped and two minutes in found an equaliser through crowd favourite Torren Anderton. To make things worse, Wests also lost their playmaker, Marty Perrett, who rolled an ankle on the slippery pitch.
Gunners thought they had scored a second in the 80th minute but it was called back as the player was deemed offside.
Four minutes into extra time, Gunners’ Callum Cook broke free but was brought down by Russ Hutfield who was shown a red card for denying the opposition a definite goal-scoring opportunity.
Both teams pressed in extra time for a winner, but to no avail.
Wests then won the ensuing penalty shoot out 5-4 to go onto play Barambah in the Preliminary Final … however they will be without central defender Hutfield.
Best for Gunners was Neil Gurnett and for Wests, Gary Favier.
Wests 1 (Gary Favier 19th) defeated Gunners 1 (Torren Anderton 47th) – Wests won 5-4 on penalties
* * *
Division 1 Qualification Semi Final – Nanango v Barambah
Nanango Were Just Too Good
This match was always going to be a hard task for Barambah with several key players missing, but they took it to Nanango for the first 40 minutes of the game.
In the 43rd minute Kieran Askin broke Barambah hearts when he pounced on a loose ball on the right hand side and finished clinically.
Two minutes later Kyron Tunstall made it 2-0, which they took into half-time.
And three minutes into the second half, Elliot Mangan charged onto a through ball to score Nanango’s third.
To their credit, Barambah never gave up but could not crack the solid Nanango defence.
In the 88th minute Damien Walters scored Nanango’s fourth having a run up the park from his normal central defensive position.
Nanango now go into their third straight Grand Final and one away from going through undefeated.
Meanwhile, Barambah will have to face a Wests team that will be desperate to win the Preliminary Final.
Best on the park for Nanango was Damien Walters and for Barambah Sheldon Livingstone.
Nanango 4 (Kieran Askin 43rd, Kyron Tunstall 45th, Elliot Mangan 48th, Damien Walters 88th) defeated Barambah 0
* * *
Next Week’s Preliminary Finals in Kingaroy:
- 2:00pm – 2nd Division: Barambah vs Gunners
- 4:00pm – Women’s: Nanango vs Gunnettes
- 6:00pm – 1st Division: Barambah vs Wests
