Shizuno Double Sinks Power
Rochedale Rovers 3 (Cameron 9'; Shizuno 65', 69') Peninsula Power 1 (Briggs 40') HT 1-1 Played at: Underwood Park
A second half Seiji Shizuno double in the space of four minutes proved the difference as Rochedale Rovers leapfrogged Peninsula Power on Saturday evening as the hosts earned the three points in a fiercely competitive encounter at Underwood Park. Lewis Cameron put the home side ahead on 9 minutes with a well placed low drive into the bottom corner of Jake Reesby's goal after Kado Aoci did well to lay the ball off for the Scot. It could have been a different story had the woodwork not denied the mercurial Richard Hurlin just moments earlier after his cheeky strike from outside the box with the outside of his left foot, left Rovers keeper James Harkin stranded only for the ball to cannon off the bar to safety. Hurlin would however play a key role in Power's equaliser shortly before half time. His pin point cross finding Dean Briggs at the far post who's volley flew past Harkin to level up the contest as Power finished the half the stronger side. They could have entered the break with a lead had Charles Mendy done better when beating the offside trap to be one on one with Harkin but he took one too many touches and wasted the opportunity. The visitors returned for the second period the better side with Harkin called into action to first catch André Bonotto's header on his line and a short time later forced to tip away Hurlin's long range effort. Midway through the half though, Rovers struck twice in quick succession, leaving Power with a mountain to climb and it was Shizuno who proved to be the match winner. Shizuno's first coming when he picked up the ball some 20 yards out and drilled a low shot beyond Reesby. His second coming just four minutes later when a neat ball across the box from Sam Fellows picked out the Japanese midfielder who fired his shot across Reesby and into the bottom far corner of the net. Rovers were content to sit on their lead as Power took the game to the hosts, but there was no way through as the Rovers defence stood firm, including a last ditch block from recently married centre back Jason Tobin. The game was played at a frenetic pace and was entertaining for the Underwood Park faithful. Rovers were missing midfielder Ryan Stenhouse and right back Phil Davies with Davies out for the season with an ACL injury. But any hint of a weakened side was dispelled as they perhaps put in one of their better performances of the season. For Power, had they converted the chances they made, they would have taken the points from this one. Mendy, despite showing some fancy footwork, was a passenger in this game whilst left back Hurlin was the danger man for the visitors with his trademark left peg delivering in some dangerous balls. Both sides will be looking to take maximum points when they return after Easter for round 9, as Power welcome Souths Utd to AJ Kelly Park whilst a Sunday outing to Capalaba awaits Rovers.
Coaches Remarks: Scott MacNicol - Rochedale Rovers: "I felt it was pretty even first half, we got our goal when we controlled the game then they got theirs when they had the better of the half. I think second half we were more hungry and more desperate. It showed with our runs for the two goals Seiji scored. Then we blocked things and defended well under pressure towards the end. Power are a good side and we're happy with the three points. The boys said we'd be in trouble according to the FB Media preview if we didn't get a result so that's pleasing. We don't want to be a yo-yo side this season."
Aaron Philp - Peninsula Power: "It was a tough game, always is coming to Rochedale. Rochedale probably wanted it just that little bit more. Their attitude was probably a little bit better and they desperately wanted the win and they did."
FB Media Player of the Match: Seiji Shizuno (Rochedale Rovers) Not just because of his second half double but he was an ever present threat in the middle of the park and rarely missed with any of his passing.
FB Media Stats:
Possession: 51% - 49% Shots on target: 3 - 6 Shots off target: 3 - 8 Corners: 6 - 3 Free Kicks: 14 - 13 Offside: 1 - 0 Yellow Cards: 1 - 2 Red Cards: 0 - 0 Rochedale Rovers: Harkin (gk), Aoci (Armstrong 90'), Cameron, Dounamis (Fields 81'), Faichnie, Fellows (Morgan 74'), Nagata, Norris, Ross, Shizuno, Tobin. Subs: Aparicio (rgk), Fields, Morgan, Armstrong, Rossi. Pine Hills: Reesby (gk), Austin, Bonotto, Boyd, Briggs, Carseldine (Feuerriegel 81'), Cunha (McEvoy 68'), Froggatt, Hurlin, Mendy, Strickland (Woolley 70'). Subs: Jones (rgk), Fairgrieve Feuerriegel, McEvoy, Woolley. Referee: Tony Sarai
