Words: Steve Pitman

Brisbane Strikers defender Cameron Draper credits improved concentration and communication with securing his side’s first clean sheet of the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland season.

Jheison Macuace netted the only goal of the game in Strikers’ 1-0 weekend win over FNQ FC Heat but it was the hosts’ defence earning plaudits for shutting out their free-scoring opposition.

“As a team this year we have prided ourselves on wanting to be a very strong defensive side,” Draper said.

“I think in the first few games of the season while we’ve done that to a large degree there’s been lapses of concentration at certain points where we’ve conceded early goals, soft goals.”

Draper explained talk between the back four and midfielders Keenan Duimpies and Michael Angus as key to the team’s third victory of the campaign, a result which lifted the side into second.

“The idea of Saturday’s game was to try and concentrate more for longer periods of the game and with that was communication as well,” he said.

“In the past there’s probably been in teams one or two players who are key communicators but I think this year we all are trying to do that job and we are getting better at it.

“It’s not just one person. You’ve got ‘Turners’ (goalkeeper Michael Turnbull) as well who’s constantly chatting during the game which makes a big difference.”

Draper, 26, praised defensive partner Greig Henslee after the experienced former Sunshine Coast man reunited with Kevin A’Herne-Evans at Perry Park.

“He came to the club as one of the form defenders in Queensland in recent times and he’s immense,” the Rockhampton product said.

“It’s good to play next to him. You pick up a lot of things as you learn from him in training and in the game.”