Under-21s Going For The Double

Wednesday 12th Aug, 2009

The Brisbane Strikers Under-21s will go to Yeronga to play Olympic FC on Sunday with an opportunity to achieve a 2009 ‘double’ for the club. With the senior team having won the Hyundai QSL premiership last weekend, coach Darren Sime’s youngsters are within 90 difficult minutes of a similar achievement.

Coming into the last round of the Under-21s competition the Strikers occupy the top rung of the league ladder, equal on 35 points with Redlands City Devils but ahead of them courtesy of a five-goal better goals differential. No other club can catch the Strikers and the Devils and, if the Strikers can defeat Olympic on Sunday, only a win of massive proportions by the Devils against the QAS on Wednesday would deny the Strikers the inaugural Under-21s premiership.

But beating Olympic on their own turf will be no easy assignment because Olympic have shown that they are a very capable team. They are only five points behind the Strikers and held Sime’s team to a draw in an entertaining encounter when last the two teams met at Goodwin Park a month ago.

With the Brisbane Strikers’ senior team playing against the Far North Queensland Bulls in faraway Mareeba in the last round of their regular season campaign this weekend, the Under 21s fixture represents an ideal opportunity for supporters to get along and watch their club in action.

Sime certainly thinks that a strong showing of support will help his team get across the finishing line as premiers.

“It could make a difference, without a doubt” he said after training his team on Wednesday. “In our last game there, when we had a bit of support, you could see how the boys lifted in the second half. The more the merrier on Sunday - I’m sure the support would definitely be appreciated. The last game was one of the most entertaining all year, and it definitely should be a good standard for the supporters”.

Sime said that while his players are expecting a tough match, they are upbeat about their ability to get the result they need.

“The boys are pretty confident, really”, he said. “We beat them 3-0 in our first game and, while the second game was a 1-1 draw, it was probably the best we’ve played all year. We know it will be competitive – it’s a small pitch and it will be a bit of a battle – but if we do the hard yards I think we can go on and do the job.

“We know what we have to do, and that’s win – no two ways about it. If we do that it will make it really difficult for Redlands next Wednesday”.

Kick-off at Goodwin Park will be at 5.00 pm.