Words: Michael Flynn

SWQ Thunder’s Colin Ball says don’t write his team off before tomorrow night’s Westfield FFA Cup clash against Palm Beach SC in Toowoomba.

Thunder are without a win in PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland in 2015 and went down to Sharks 3-0 in their league meeting earlier in the season.

However, the 20-year-old fullback was eager to point out that anything can happen in knock-out football and that he and his Thunder teammates would love nothing better than to deliver a classic cup upset.

“We’ve been working really hard in training in preparation and the last time we played them in the league at home we did quite well,” Ball explained.

“We won our last game against West Wanderers in the FFA Cup and we saw how they rose and they played very well. So we will be looking to do the same against the Sharks.”

“We’ll be trying to force an upset certainly.”

He added that being acclimatised to Toowoomba's notorious winter chill will hopefully give Thunder a further edge in the match.

“We’re used to training in the cold and it’s going to be really cold up here compared to what it is on the Gold Coast and that will help us a lot.”

Ball was part of the Thunder Youth Men’s squad that qualified for the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2013 Grand Final.

He said that the bond formed between several members of that squad, many of whom also played junior football together, continues to serve Thunderwell as they look to establish themselves at senior level.

“We grew up through the system at South West and most of us have only ever played for South West since we were little,” he explained.

“A lot of us have stuck around and gotten the NPL experience with the men and it’s only a matter of time until we do get that big result.”

“A lot us now have a year more experience and we are attacking more this year. So we are trying to bring something more than we did last year.”

If Thunder defeat Sharks they will be just one win away from the national Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32.

Ball said that if they could reach that stage of the tournament it would be a boost to football in the region and for Thunder.

“We are going to have to cause a couple of upsets to get through but how could it not have a positive effect on football in Toowoomba?” he concluded rhetorically.

Fixture details:

Westfield FFA Cup Southern Zone Quailfying Round 6
SWQ Thunder FC v Palm Beach SC
Middle Ridge Park, Toowoomba
Saturday, June 6
Kick-off - 5:00PM