Brisbane Roar Youth coach Josh McCloughan is expecting a tough test when the Young Roar face Moreton Bay United in their PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Round 13 fixture at Cleveland Showgrounds on Tuesday (7pm KO).
The fixture was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday, 4 June before wet weather forced the match to be postponed until Tuesday, 7 June.
McCloughan says his young side have trained well during the week and anticipate a tough contest against the defending PS4 NPL QLD Champions.
“We’ve had a good week in training. The boys are excited to take on what is probably one of the teams that will challenge for the title,” McCloughan said.
“We know that they have a lot of quality in their side.
“They’re well organised and they’ll be a really good test this week.”
McCloughan’s side went down 2-0 to cross-town rivals Brisbane Strikers in their last outing, but says the side have taken plenty of positives out of the game.
“We were still creating chances against arguably the best football team in the league,” McCloughan said.
“We were right in that game until the end and if a few things had gone our way then we would have taken something from it.
“As long as we’re still creating chances, then I’m okay with it.”
The Young Roar have displayed a highly-entertaining and electric style of football throughout the first half of the season. The squad have only scored two or more goals twice this season, but have demonstrated that they are capable of becoming an attacking force in the PS4 NPL QLD.
The squad have also proven tough to crack at the back with one of the best defensive records in the league, conceding just 14 times in 12 matches.
McCloughan is pleased with the team’s structure and ability to create chances, and says the side now just needs some individual moments of brilliance.
“Structurally as a team we’re playing really well,” McCloughan said.
“I think now it just comes down to the little individual moments where we need the boys to produce that moment of quality.
“We’ve just hammered home the message to stick to our principles and our structures and if we do that then things will come.”
This weekend’s fixture will be the Young Roar’s fifth home fixture at Cleveland Showgrounds, a venue where the side are undefeated this season with two wins and two draws.
The playing surface at Cleveland Showgrounds has permitted the likes of Nick D’Agostino and Joseph Champness (above) to use their incredible ground speed to regularly cause issues for opposition defences.
“We love Cleveland [Showgrounds]. The pitch suits us and it’s a great playing surface,” McCloughan said.
“We enjoy being there in familiar surroundings and we’re really looking forward to getting out there on the weekend.”
