This match was billed as the battle of the boys with both Academies having squads years younger than the other Northern National Youth League teams (other than the AIS). Both Queensland and ACT Academies of Sport have always regarded youth development as more important than simple results on the pitch and because of this have been very keen to see their developed players picked up by the Australian Institute of Sport and other NSL teams. Both academies in their early days had special relationships with their 'mother' clubs the Strikers and the Cosmos and played their games as curtain raisers to the NSL games. A few years ago both NSL clubs decided to invest in their own youth teams and the ACTAS and the QAS remained solidly committed to producing and developing excellence in even younger players.
Both Academies have well respected coaches. Milan Milovanovic was the Assistant Coach to Steve O'Connor at the AIS for a number of years and has been closely linked with the production of many of Australia's current Socceroos and others playing at the highest level. Milo was also arguably the most successful of all the Canberra Cosmos coaches and Bruce Stowell has been in charge of NSL teams in Newcastle and Brisbane.
Both men are now passing their cumulative experience on to the youngsters in their respective cities and their teams, on this showing, are capable of playing attractive soccer. Both teams looked very comfortable on the ball and a feature of the game was the capacity of either team to play out of danger and not boot the ball anywhere. It is clear that there will be occasions during the season when these teams will be muscled out by older, tougher and more experienced players but few teams will be able to outplay these academies in terms of skill and commitment.
Last Friday the Academy from the capital had the first opportunity in the third minute when Queensland's Wade Davidson lost the ball to Adam Spaleta. Unfortunately for the ACTAS Spaleta's shot was well over. A minute later Spaleta had an even better opportunity set up by the speedy left back Aiden Brunskill, but Spaleta sliced his shot badly. Queensland made ACT pay for these early wasted chances when in the fifth minute the elegant Queensland midfielder, Greg King, delicately chipped the Academy keeper to put his side ahead. ACTAS immediately hit back and Alex Nedeljkovic sent over a lovely cross from the right wing, which Shaun Ontong just failed to get a touch on for a certain equaliser.
After these chances it was Queensland, which began to take a firm grip on the game, and in the 14th minute they increased their lead when Chris Hagell who had a very strong game, found himself unmarked at the far post for a corner. Hagell expertly volleyed past the helpless Ben Cheyne in the Academy goal, who would be annoyed with himself as he would feel that he should have taken the centre when it had been swung across.
At this stage ACTAS were still well in the game and continuing to play attractive football. In the 30th minute following some neat inter-passing Brunskill found himself bearing down on goal with just the QAS keeper, Shanon Lancini, to beat. Brunskill backed himself and attempted to send a swerve beyond Lancini's reach. However Lancini's reflexes were better than Brunskill's effort and the keeper patted the ball away.
Just before the break, Hagell tried a speculator from thirty yards. The ball skidded and wickedly bounced on the wet, shiny turf. Cheyne had the shot covered but the ball careered into Cheyne's shoulder and spun into the net. So from having had the opportunities to go into the break even, ACTAS were dismayed at the half-time score of 0-3. Particularly so as in the final minutes of the half ACTAS had a couple of further chances. Ian Graham's volley, also from a corner, was cleared off the line, and Spaleta shot just over. To be fair Queensland's Judd Molea had previously wasted a great opportunity after Cheyne and Matt Grayson had got on each other's way.
Ten minutes into the second half, QAS scored their fourth and effectively put the game beyond the reach of the ACTAS. Dane Richardson had been fed an exquisite ball in the ACTAS penalty area and he beautifully turned his defender who naively brought him down. Referee Les O'Donoghue who had controlled the game very well and was perfectly placed, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Hagell stepped up and expertly converted to complete a well-deserved hat trick.
Whether it was their hurt pride or whether QAS took their foot off the pedal, it was only now that ACTAS began to play with some real grit and conviction. They took the game to the QAS and set up numerous chances but could not put one away. ACTAS skipper, Steve Hayes, who had played with great heart as well as skill at the heart of defence pushed forward and his shot went just wide. Substitute, Matt Grbesa, whose activity when he had been introduced had spurred the Academy, set up a great opportunity for Graham whose hard shot was deflected. From the resulting corner Hayes headed just wide, and in the 66th minute Spaleta had another long-range effort go metres wide.
The always-dangerous King was substituted shortly after. He had taken a knock and Stowell was taking no chances. This is a capital weekend for his team as they will remain in Canberra and play Canberra Deakin on Sunday afternoon before returning to Brisbane. QAS' Jimmy Downey had been positioned forward and he won a race for a clearance with an ACTAS defender but Cheyne was alert and raced out to clear the danger. In the 82nd minute Cheyne was on hand to make an even better save from Downey.
It just was not going to go well for ACT this game and in the 86th minute a speculative long ball was misjudged by Lancini. It bounced over his head and ACTAS substitute Blaney Hudson was on hand in front of an open goal. Instead of rolling the ball into the net Hudson went for pace and the ball firmly struck the post before being cleared by the appreciative Queensland defence.
The embarrassment was complete for ACTAS when in the final minutes Hayes took his frustration out on an opposition player with a silly charge, which resulted in a yellow card. There was just time for Queensland's Richardson to miss an even easier chance than Hudson's in front of the Canberra goal before O'Donoghue's whistle brought an end to the game.
