Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Emily Wilson/Sunshine Coast Fire

Sunshine Coast Fire coach Kevin A’herne-Evans acknowledges this afternoon’s match against Olympic FC is a must-win if his side are to remain in the NPL Queensland Final Series hunt.

Fire currently sit in seventh place, six points adrift of the league’s fourth and last finals place, currently held by FNQ FC Heat.

While results have been favourable for Fire so far this weekend, including defeats for Heat and sixth-placed Brisbane City, A’herne-Evans said a win would be important if Fire were to record their second consecutive Finals Series appearance.

“We’re really clear on our position going in - it’s crucial that we get something from this game,” he explained

“It’s not easy going to Goodwin Park and Olympic have got a good record against us so far in the NPL.”

“Although the games have all been really competitive and could’ve gone either way, they’ve always managed to get the three points at the end of the game. It will be tough but we’re still pretty confident going down there.”

Fire have been in good form in the second half of the season, winning four of their past six matches, and A’herne-Evans said if his side stick to their strengths they can upset the second-placed Olympic.

“We’ve put a bit more planning into a 'Plan B' and 'Plan C' but the initial game plan will be the same as we’ve played in the past few weeks,” he explained.

“They’ve all been pretty similar games where we expect them to have a lot of the ball against us and defensively we’re going to need to be sound.”

A’herne-Evans added that even if finals football does elude his team this season, he has been encouraged by his squads’ development in what he termed a “rebuilding year” for Fire.

“We’ve seen massive improvements in our group in terms of where we were at the start of the season to where we are now."

"We lost 15 from last year's 18 man senior squad, so it was always going to take time," he added.

He explained that Fire's Football Queensland Cup loss to Sunshine Coast Premier League club Caloundra FC earlier this season had been the catalyst for the turn-around.

"We took a lot from the cup loss. There was two ways it could go - we could either fold or show true character as individuals and as a group and continue to compete," he explained.

"It's an unbelieveable turnaround and all the credit has to go to the players because they've faced every challenge they've had head-on."

“We’ve now beaten teams like Redlands, Moreton Bay, Brisbane Roar and the Malaysians and we will draw confidence from that going into this game,” he concluded.

Fire are expected to be boosted by the return of experienced midfielder Paul Arnison for the match.

Kick-off between Olympic and Fire is scheduled for 5pm Sunday at Goodwin Park.