Words: Steve Pitman, Brisbane Strikers
Image: Brisbane Strikers

Brisbane Strikers are through to the next round of the Football Queensland Cup, after defeating Capalaba Bulldogs 5-0 in a feisty contest at John Frederick’s Park on Wednesday night.

Former Capalaba juniors Scot Coulson and Alex Schiavo came back to haunt their old club, scoring two goals each for Strikers, with fullback Chris Maher also etching his name on the scoresheet.

Strikers front line of Coulson, Matt Thurtell and Jheison Macauce proved dangerous throughout the opening half and forced Bulldogs goalkeeper Brad Burrows into several telling saves from close range.

Coulson opened accounts when he delivered a composed finish on the half hour to beat Burrows with a low drive from fifteen yards after combining with Thurtell.

Capalaba responded with a raid down the right that saw Bulldogs centre forward Josh Peacock head just over the bar. The home side again came close shortly after when a long range effort was denied by the crossbar.

Aside from those moments, Strikers remained largely untroubled in their own third as the back four of Maher, Jason Shade, Dan Partridge and Greg King, assisted by the occasional intervention of Chambers, stood firm to end the half.

The home side re-emerged from the sheds in an aggressive frame of mind as they forced the Strikers on to the back foot for most of the opening fifteen minutes of the second stanza.

The physicality of the contest intensified following the restart with Shade and Peacock engaging in an ongoing battle. The visitors remained under pressure but also saw their chances including a Macauce strike that struck the post from the edge of the penalty area.

The introduction of Schiavo just after the hour led to Strikers doubling their advantage, the substitute glancing a header rom Coulson’s inswinging corner after being on the pitch barely two minutes.

Ten minutes later, Coulson effectively sealed the result with a dipping direct free-kick from 25 yards.

As Capalaba ran out of steam Maher added a fourth goal, driving his shot into the roof of Burrows’ net from Macauce cross after Schiavo and Macuace had combined to open up the opportunity on the left.

Schiavo then rubbed salt into the wounds by unloading a screamer from fifteen yards that gave Burrows no chance.

Strikers coach Chay Hews said post match that the win wasn't as easy for his players as the score line suggested.

“We ran away with it at the end, but for a large part of the game it was a real battle”, Hews said. “Credit to Capalaba, they got stuck in. They didn’t want to lose and they put up a good fight.”