Young teammates shine on the big stage
A FEW months ago Cairns FC teammates Ryan Cavanah and Jacson Riley were sitting in their high school class rooms dreaming of being footballers.
On Tuesday night at Barlow Park, they not only played against the best football team in Australia, the teenagers more than held their own on the biggest stage Far North football has ever seen.
Cavanah, who previously played with Spanish club Rincon De La Victoria, scored his first goal of 2018 to give Cairns the lead and Riley kept out countless Sydney advances that kept their goal tally at just two, despite the visitors’ dominance.
Cavanah has only recently finished his final year of high school before putting in a nearon best afield performance for Cairns in the Cup.
“I do not remember much after I scored, everything just went blurry,” Cavanah said.
“It sat nicely and I just sidefooted it into the far corner.
“I felt like I was starting to get into the game and get a few touches.
“I was trying to step up to that next level at the start of a game like this is always a wake-up call.
“Once you get going, it is all right.”
Cairns coach Danny Graystone believes the pair’s performance should see clubs come calling for them, with Cairns FC to exit the NPL following the 2018 season.
“Hopefully seeing the way Sydney FC worked in the middle of the pitch, it will be a great learning experience for Ryan,” Graystone said.
“He has really played excellently and I am sure, like Jacson, he is one that clubs will be keeping their eyes on.”
Riley, who now works in after school care after graduating from Year 12, praised Cup-tied goalkeeper Pierce Clark for helping him develop his game this season.
“I just tried to save as many as I can and do the best I can,” Riley said.
“Pierce has helped me so much to gain experience. I love stepping in and helping the team.”