In-form Cap Coast has edge

Capricorn Coast’s Georgia Kane uses her speed to get by Nerimbera defenders.

Supplied

A YOUTHFUL Capricorn Coast women’s side has dominated this year’s competition and is hoping to continue its good form in tonight’s major semi-final at Yeppoon’s Apex Park.

Undefeated this season, the Coast side is up against its nearest rival, Nerimbera Magpies, who have managed two draws against the minor premiers.

Capricorn Coast’s dominance is clearly displayed through its goal-scoring ability this season.

However, the team’s ability in defence is also admirable.

In 23 games it has scored 122 goals and has conceded just five.

One of the stars of the side has been 16-year-old Georgia Kane.

Kane is a striker and has been finding the back of the net regularly.

Using her pace to breeze past defenders, Kane is impressing at the club not only with her talent but with her ability to provide goal-scoring opportunities for her team-mates.

“She’s very unselfish with the ball and will pass it,” Capricorn Coast captain Carina Ryan said.

“Georgia’s extremely fast and uses her pace to get by her defender.” Nerimbera’s fitness and pace have caught its opponents out as has the team’s ability to turn defence into attack.

“We’ve got the ability to move the ball at speed,” Nerimbera coach Rick Parker said.

“Our attacking on the run is our strength.”

The combination of talented youngsters and experienced players such as Ryan and Ashleigh McDonald has paid dividends this season.

But Parker is not overly happy.

Parker enjoys having the youngsters in his side but he believes changes need to be made to junior football.

He has Capricornia Secondary Schoolgirls representatives Leah Parker and Kane and Jessica Pope, who are all aged under 17, as regular members of his senior team.

“We’ve got two girls that are 14 that we’ve brought through to the senior side,” Parker said.

“From under 11s up until under 15s they have to play in the girls’ competition and it’s not very strong.”

Parker has suggested a way to improve the abilities of the extra-talented girls.

“The better girls should be allowed to play alongside the boys up until under 15s,” he said.

“It gives them the awareness and the extra challenge they’re looking for.”

Tonight, their opposition Nerimbera will be without striker/mid-fielder Kajal Tighe who was injured in last weekend’s 10-0 win over Parkana.

Tighe has scored 17 goals this season and plays an important role in Nerimbera’s attack.

However, Ryan believes that Tighe’s absence will not change how Nerimbera will play. “When they play us they’re a very defensive side,” said Ryan.

In the other semi-final, Bluebirds take on CQU Berserker in what should be a tight match, with both sides recording a win against each this season.

Semi-finals

Football Rockhampton tonight:

At Apex Park (major): 6.30pm (women) Cap Coast v Nerimbera Magpies; 8.30pm (third division) Cap Coast v Parkana Lightning

At Elizabeth Park (minor): 6.30pm (women) Bluebirds v CQU Berserker; 8.30pm (third division) Nerimbera v CQU Berserker