Warwick girl captains team through hardship in Cairns comp

THREE years on the field and she's scored the top job in the south-west squad, playing for glory this week against teams from across the state.

SOCCER STAR: Warwick girl Jessy Holley has been playing hard for the South-West Queensland team during the Football Queensland Community Cup. Picture: Kate McCormack

FOOTBALL: WARWICK girl Jessy Holley has been supporting her under 16s team through a few rough games during the Football Queensland Community Cup.

The 15-year-old player from Assumption College is the captain of the South-West Queensland team who have had a rocky road to the semi-finals today, with some crushing defeats to North Queensland and the Gold Coast.

"It's challenging but we all try to find the right headspace before the game, not focussing on what we have played but what will be played,” she said.

Jessy has been playing football for three years and said the game was therapeutic for her.

"I love it, it's a great escape from pressure and overthinking,” she said.

"It is like a whole different point of view, when you are on the field all the stress which comes from family and school melts away.”

She led her team to their second victory of the cup today, defeating Brisbane North four nil.

The Football Queensland Community Cup is a state-wide junior football tournament, giving players the opportunity to compete at local representative level against other regions across seven days.

It's being held this week in Cairns.

Coach Tim Taylor said the Community Cup could be a particularly trying time for players as they were not used to the team they were playing with.

"We've been a little inconsistent, we've had some great games and others which weren't so flash but they are starting to come together as a team,” he said.

"They are a good group of girls and now they are starting to gel which is showing on the field.”

Taylor said the stand-out of the series had been the efforts of their goalkeeper Eloise Peden.

"She has saved us quite a few times we would be lost without her.”

The girls will be taking on Mackay at 4.50pm today for a chance to make the semi-finals.

"They are going to be firing on all cylinders because we beat them last time but fingers-crossed we pull another win,” Taylor said.