Buderim ends run with spirited win

BUDERIM coach George Cowie says he hopes Saturday night's 3-2 win over Caloundra is a turning point in the Wanderers' season.

Buderim’s Robbie McDonald runs the ball past Caloundra’s Matthew Cornthwaite, left, and Ray Schultz. Picture: Cade Mooney

BUDERIM coach George Cowie says he hopes Saturday night’s 3-2 win over Caloundra is a turning point in the Wanderers’ season.

Last year’s premier and Johnny Warren Cup winner has had a lean trot of results recently.

But Buderim rallied after being reduced to 10-men early in the match against Caloundra to come away with a valuable victory.

“I thought there was a bit more spirit than in recent weeks,” Cowie said of the performance.

“I was happy with the team spirit.

“We had a player sent off after 23 minutes and played most of the match with 10 men.

“The game could have swung either way and to win was a big effort from the boys.”

Buderim went ahead 1-0 early in the match, courtesy of an own goal, before Keegan De Courcy picked up his second yellow card of the match.

Johan Isaacson gave Buderim a two-goal buffer when he found the back of the net but Sam Heidman injected some life into the match when he scored for Caloundra.

But Buderim’s Caleb Smith did his best to end hopes of a Caloundra comeback when he slotted home a penalty.

Bevan Straube scored late for Caloundra but it made little difference as the Wanderers held on to stay in third spot on the McDonald’s Premier League ladder.

Cowie said his team found an extra gear after De Courcy was sent off.

“It’s uncanny how a team lifts. It happens all the time,” he said.

“You don’t want people sent off but they had to dig in deep and they found something.

“Although it was 3-2 we always had our noses in front.

“We hope it’s a turning point (in the season) but we don’t know.

“The team has been under-performing for the last six weeks.

"We’ve struggled and when that happens it’s hard to come around,” he said.

“But I think we’ve got enough experience in the club to tough it out and get the results.”

Buderim has a tough month coming up, with matches against fellow top-five teams NYU, Kawana, Woombye and Maroochydore.

“It’ll be extremely hard next week away to Yandina (NYU),” Cowie said.

“We’ve got a really tough run over the next four weeks and it’ll be a real test for the boys.

“The league’s a lot tighter this year and there’ll be quite a lot of topsy turvy results.

“They’re all capable of beating each other.”

Originally published as Buderim ends run with spirited win