Word: Chris Doherty-Fisher
Image: Sam Wood/FNQ FC Heat

FNQ FC Heat booked their place in the NPL Queensland Finals on Saturday night, defeating Olympic FC 2-1 at Stratford Football Club in Cairns.

The goals came all in the opening half hour, with Alex Smith and Josh De Nittis netting for the Heat while Jake McLean added to the ledger for Olympic.

Defending NPL Queensland Premiers Olympic needed to win to avoid relinquishing their title Palm Beach Sharks, and they started positively as Reuben Way and McLean saw early shots blocked.

On 8 minutes, Smith played in a perfectly timed pass for De Nittis, who was denied by excellent defending from Olympics’ Mark Fisk.

A minute later, Way was in the action again as he teed up striker Tim Smits, whose shot was blocked by the Heat defence.

Olympic had an excellent opportunity in the 15^th minute winning a free kick in a dangerous position, but the ball was collected by Valcicak.

Smith spectacularly opened accounts a minute later, scoring from an impossible angle with a curled shot into the top right hand corner of the goal.

Jake McLean squared terms in the 22^nd minute with a spectacular finish – drilling the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure and doubled their advantage on 29 minutes when De Nittis smashed Smith’s cutback in off the post.

Jamie Carroll fashioned his first chance of the night after combining with Crios O’Hate, but could only direct his shot straight at Olympic goalkeeper Shannon Lancini.

Heat could have sealed the points two minutes later when De Nittis struck the crossbar.

With the pressure telling on the visitors, referee David Wiebe quelled several heated clashes prior to the break – first between Carroll and Mundy followed shortly after by Rhys Meredith and Zenon Caravella.

Olympic returned from half time fired up as Danny Byrne shot from distance shortly after the restart.

Meredith saw a pair of chances blocked shortly after, the second following a neat build-up between McLean and Mundy down the left.

Heat still offered plenty as Smith missed the target trying to replicate his first half strike.

Mqondisi Nkiwane threatened immediately after his introduction with 11 minutes remaining, almost turning in Lancini’s parried save from a shot by Carroll.

Heat finished strongly as Caravella delivered a pin-point 40 yard pass to allow Carroll to set-up De Nittis, who struck his rocketed effort straight at Lancini.

Heat spurned further chances in injury time from Nkiwane and Carroll but saw out the result to move past Olympic in the league standings.

The win moves Heat in to outright second in the standings, however a home semi-final is still not secured and the Cairns club could still finish as low as fourth depending on other results.

FNQ FC Heat 2 (Alex SMITH 15’, Josh DE NITTIS 29’)
Olympic FC 1 (Jake MCLEAN 22’)