Spirits up for derby
19th May 2012 4:00 AM
Bundaberg News Mail
Spirit’s Zac Freeburn playing against Far North Queensland Bulls at Across The Waves sports ground.
Max Fleet BUNDABERG Toyota Spirit is keen for revenge when meeting Capricorn Cougars in round 10 of the Queensland State League at ATW Sports Complex tonight.
The Spirit was beaten by the Cougars 5-3 in the season opener in Rockhampton on March 10.
But their recent form has been good with a 3-0 win against Gold Coast, 2-2 draw with Whitsunday Miners and narrow losses to QAS 2-1 and Far North Queensland Bulls 1-0 from their past four starts.
Their three star Central Coast Mariners recruits Zac Freeburn, Brendan Griffin and Adam Ormsby will play together for the first time since the first round.
Griffin was cleared to play after being plagued by a an ankle injury throughout last month. Assistant coach Peter Martin hoped he would get through the full game and that Ormsby would be back to his best after being below his usual standard in his return after an English stint last week.
"Adam played well but was just not his normal self, but I'm sure he'll be back to his peak," Martin said.
"But it looks like Luke Leggett is out - he has a knee injury - and Tom Evans is away with the schoolboys (state championships)."
Martin said the loss was disappointing but they had had a good week on the training paddock and everyone was keen on payback and notching a much-needed win.
"It's the start of the second round and we still have two games in hand with the wash-outs and we're not situated too bad really, but it is must-win," he said.
"We've had to make a few changes - Brendan Griffin will go to the left side of the midfield and Johnny Brillante will go to the right with Elliot Causer starting up front with Shane Youngberry and we're confident that will be good enough.
"It's a bit of a local derby and everyone is keen and hopefully we'll be able to get over the top of them after the scoreline they put on us in the first round. It was 5-1 at halftime but we won the second half 2-0."
Martin said their backline and keeper Matt Eilers had been "really solid" since that blowout and he backed them to do the job again.
"This week we've concentrated more on attack and scoring - it has been something we've been struggling with, but hopefully we'll get something out of it," he said.
The game is at 7.30pm after the duel between the Spirit and South West at 5.30pm.