Fire goalkeeper denies rampant Thunder
Sunshine Coast Fire goalkeeper denies South West Queensland Thunder in NPL stalemate.
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FOOTBALL: It looked like the weight of the world was pressing down on the South West Queensland Thunder on Saturday night.
Circled around coach Francesco Zanoncelli, the men's side was visibly frustrated after their 0-0 draw with the Sunshine Coast Fire at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
On paper the Thunder should've easily accounted for a side that had leaked 59 goals in their previous 10 NPL QLD games - but football games are never won on paper.
Dominating the early possession, the Thunder looked dangerous once they established a short sharp passing game with more balls played to feet.
The Thunder's first clear chance came in the 30th minute.
Sent into action two minutes earlier for an injured Travis Cooper, Nicholas Edwards capitalised on some brilliant lead-up play before hitting the post with just the Fire keeper to beat.
It would prove to be the theme of the Thunder's night - a night of near misses and high-quality saves from Fire shot-stopper Shane Dix.
Thunder centre midfielder Jackson Franke could not fault or criticise his team after the game.
"It was just one of those nights," he said.
"Their keeper made some quality saves, he kept them in the game.
"If we'd got one early I think it would've been a different story."
It wasn't all one-way traffic, though, with keeper Jacob Sayle forced into a number of good saves and the Thunder defence blocking numerous shots and hurried into a goal-line clearance late in the game.
It was Dix who proved to be game's standout performer, though.
"That's the best I've played all year," the Fire keeper said.
"Honestly it's been a tough few games, I only came into the top side four games ago but this is what I wanted to play at this level. The boys get into the good positions and I just do the bit at the end."
Dix was quick to praise his teammates, post-match.
"These boys are unbelievable," he said.
"The amount of character they showed tonight - at the death there was just wave after wave of attack.
"The SWQ boys are a tough side and they just kept hammering us. The boys showed their true grit, that they want to be here and just work for it."
Originally published as Fire goalkeeper denies rampant Thunder
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