Scorers: Rod Brown 27min, Frank Farina 52min, Clayton Zane 90min
Referee: Greg Leverton 7/10 (one linesman was bad on off-sides)
Crowd: 2,200
Teams: BS - Bolton, Gwynne, Zoricich, S Cranney, Farina (Knipe), Brown,
T Cranney, Chay Hews (Meredith), Laybutt, Andrew Packer, Harper.
NTB - Swancott, Pryce, McManus, Ritchie, Ironside, Sprod
(Edwards), Halpin (Austin), Lowe, Zane, McGuire, Lane.
A major downpour and inky threatening skies kept the crowd down so there were less to be dissapointed in a game which going on last year promised much but delivered very little. The exception to this would have been Strikers supporters who at least picked up 3 pts from a poor display.
The first 20 minutes was sparring stuff. Probing runs from both sides interspersed by hesitant passing spells and the game was balanced. Brisbane then started to pick up the tempo possibly having realised that Newcastle weren't about to sweep them away and some strong running by Farina opened up the Breakers defence. Both teams were playing with three strikers but Harper and more so Brown were running parallel to Farina at the twin defence and causing real heartache. Surprisingly Kosmina didn't seem to react to this. All the Strikers attacks were coming straight down the field and the Cranneys were no where to be seen. A couple of chances before the 25min at the other end which Zane failed to convert left Newcastle exposed and at 27min former Newcastle player Rod Brown scored a fine classic far post header from a well placed corner from the left leaping freely and high to place it powerfully past a swivelling Swancott. 0-1.
30mins and Pryce clears very well indeed off a Farina angled shot but again 6 mins later Farina is allowed to run and he sets up Brown for a shot which Swancott covers well. A brief spark from the Breakers has Benn Lane hit a scorcher to the right of Bolton which the reprieved Brisbane keeper takes high up. The tempo died down until the half time whistle which sees both teams needing to rethink their second half plans.
The Breakers come out and a false aura is cast by the 1st min header from Benn Lane. The Rowdies come alive and put Bolton under pressure but 7 mins later that man Farina scores on a breakaway and the Breakers drop their heads. The second half is best forgotten with Brisbane coasting and Newcastle struggling and playing very ordinary football.
Kosmina surprises by taking off Sprod for Shaun Edwards who makes his EC debut this year, and an even bigger shock Halpin for Austin. Two creative players for two defenders when you are 2 blot down? Edwards at least shows some class, and Austin is all commitment which perhaps Halpo wasn't demonstrating. Just when the crowd was starting to leave early (very unusual for Newcastle) the Breakers came alive and played the fast interpassing stuff that got them to a cm of the 6 last year. A bit late for even Zane's goal (cleaned up from a Benn Lane strike parried by Bolton) in the 45min was not going to save the points.
The top 6 looks a far distance goal now for the Breakers and coach Kosmina needs a rethink while Brisbane go north with some cheer at last. Best for BS - Farina, Brown, Gwynne, NTB - Swancott, Lane, Pryce
Match report by Chris Dunkerley in the absence of many in Melbourne.