Words: Chris Doherty-Fisher & Michael Flynn
Image: Sam Wood/FNQ FC Heat

FNQ FC Heat strengthened their claims for a home semi-final a 3-2 win over Brisbane City at Barlow Park on Saturday night.

Attacking trio Crios O’Hare, Alex Smith and Jamie Carroll shared the goals for Heat, while Antonio Murray netted a first half brace for City.

Murray, last year’s NPL Queensland Golden Boot winner, showed his intentions early, testing Heat goalkeeper Daniel Valcicak inside the opening minute

On ten minutes, Josh De Nittis created the first genuine chance for the hosts – winning the ball off the City backline before being shut down by defender Luca Perico.

Five minutes later the hosts threatened again amidst a scramble in the City penalty area, however Carroll, Smith and O’Hare all failed to make their attempts count.

The side’s continued to exchange chances as Carroll saw his shot blocked by Luca Jannesse before Murray against forced Valcicak to save at the other end.

Heat opened the scoring soon after – O’Hare tapping home Thomas Murphy’s deft nod on from well-placed Zenon Caravella cross on 19 minutes.

Five minutes later, Murray levelled terms, turning Josh Jennison on the edge of the area before slotting his strike into the bottom corner.

Smith returned Heat to the lead only two minutes minute later, beating two defenders with a clever lob before smashing his shot past City goalkeeper Matt Stein.

Stein proved up to task on 33 minutes to deny Jamie Gosling’s shot from the edge of the area before Jennison shot wide with a bicycle kick a minute later.

Murray restored parity again prior to the break, outpacing the Heat defence to a through ball and lobbing his finish over Valcicak.

The City striker started the second half in familiar fashion, again calling on Valcicak to save.

Carroll broke the deadlock on 51 minutes, combining with O’Hare to unlock the defence before slotting from the top of the box into the bottom corner.

The chances continued for both sides but City proved unable to level terms for a third.

Stein produced a sharp save to deny Gosling on 56 minutes after he was teed up by De Nittis, while Murray continued to threaten for City, shooting wide of the target on 68 minutes.

Matt Murphy, threatened in the final 15 minutes in his return from injury, shooting wide with his left foot on 76 minutes before following it up with a blocked effort six minutes later.

City substitute Daniel Clark threatened late for the visitors, however blazed his last shot of the game wide to put paid to another comeback for last year’s Grand Finalists.

The win lifts Heat five points clear of Olympic FC, who have two games in hand and can still reel in the Cairns-based club in the battle for a home semi-final.

FNQ FC Heat 3 (Crios O’HARE 19’, Alex SMITH 26’, Jamie CARROLL 51’)
Brisbane City 2 (Antonio MURRAY 24’ 39’)