NQ kicking themselves
LIAM BUTTERWORTH | June 4th, 2012
NORTH Queensland Razorbacks have been left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal, falling 1-0 to the Bundaberg Spirit in the Queensland State League.
The Razorbacks had at least nine goal-scoring opportunities in the second half at the Townsville Sports Reserve, but were unable to get past Spirit goalkeeper Matt Eilers and make up for striker Shane Youngberry's 36th-minute goal on the counter-attack.
Bundaberg and Townsville both dominated long passages of the play in a dour first half, but the Razorbacks' defence was barely troubled after the break as they threw waves of attack at the Spirit's goal and were unlucky not to claim at least a draw.
Jacob Crowley was denied by Eilers in the Pigs' best chance of the match on 48 minutes after combining with Gareth Edds.
Crowley put Edds into the box with a deft through-ball and the former NQ Fury midfielder drew two defenders before backheeling cleverly to the unmarked striker, but Crowley's goal-bound effort was deflected onto the crossbar by the goalkeeper.
The Spirit custodian was called into action twice more in the next few minutes, denying Edds' drive from outside the 18-yard box and a low, cross-goal strike by Sam Herlihy.
As the half went on, Edds, Jesse Consalvo, Reece Edmonds and Jae Eurell all created scoring opportunities, but were unable to find the back of the net or players for their crosses.
Coach Ken Mitchell said they would need to start converting their dominance if they were going to get results out of games.
"That's the whole crux of it, if you're going to dominate for long periods of the game and have lots of possession and chances, you need to convert otherwise the pressure reverses and you get caught in the transitional moment like we did and you don't react quick enough," Mitchell said.
He said the inexperience of the side had shown in front of goal, and the players were feeling the pressure with every missed chance.
"I think what happens is it compounds itself, we had a few early chances in the second half and I think if we convert them you get up on confidence and you start to become a bit more composed and relaxed," Mitchell said.
"I think as the minutes went by, the decision making became a little indecisive, it was a little bit wrong and I think that comes down to a bit of composure because the pressure builds and you don't take the early chances and then every time you miss after that the players start thinking about the clock and the result and the pressure comes back on ourselves."
The Razorbacks have a double-header against the Spirit and Capricorn Cougars next weekend in catch-ups from postponed matches earlier in the season and Mitchell may be forced to turn to the North Queensland Under-19 side for depth.
With Edds only available for home matches and Anthony Galliozzi unlikely to travel after being taken off with an ankle injury against the Spirit, Mitchell said it would be a good opportunity to blood young players in the state league.
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2012/06/04/335411_sport.html