Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Garry McKenzie
Images: Chris Simpson

FNQ Heat have reclaimed top spot on the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues table with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Western Pride at Briggs Road Sporting Complex.

Keiran Sanders scored his second goal in two weeks to put the visitors ahead early before Joshua Pin doubled the advantage shortly after the restart.

Pride finished the contest strongly – with Corey Lucas striking the crossbar before Gabriel Hawash pulled a goal back late in the piece – but were unable to salvage a share of the points.

The win moves Heat back ahead of Moreton Bay United in the league standings on goal difference, while Pride remain mired in the bottom rungs of the table with a solitary point from their opening three matches.

It also extends Heat’s impressive record against Pride – with the Cairns-based club not tasting defeat against their Ipswich opponents since 2013.

Key Moments

12’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Keiran Sanders lofts a shot over Pride goalkeeper Duncan Short from the top of the penalty area

30’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Douglas Brown pulls the trigger inside a crowded penalty area but is denied by a diving save from Heat goalkeeper Kevin Ward

50’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Adam Endean tees up Geoffrey McIntyre but his shot goes across the face and wide of the target

52’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Joshua Pin meets a high floated cross with a looping header that is beyond the reach of Duncan Short

62’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Switch of play from Jamie Carroll finds Jamie Gosling, who forces a diving save from Duncan Short

68’ – CHANCE FOR PRIDE – Corey Lucas puts his foot through a free-kick but it clatters off the crossbar

83’ – GOAL FOR PRIDE – Substitute Gabriel Hawash gets on to an angled through ball and smashes a low shot across Kevin Ward that bounces in off the far post

What They Said

“I never felt that we were under pressure at all tonight (prior to the first goal). It was just one of those individual mistakes that you can’t account for. It’s certainly something that I have to go away and look at how to better prepare the boys to not concede that early goal. It’s also something the boys individually need to have a focus on themselves to make sure that first and second halves we are right in the game as soon as the whistle goes.“ – Graham Harvey, Western Pride FC coach

“We always knew that one (goal) wouldn’t be enough. We just got the feeling today, especially at half time, we talked about how important it was to try and get a couple of goals because the Pride looked like they were going to score quite a bit. They had some good stuff going through the middle and did really well.“ – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 3
Saturday, March 12
Briggs Road Sporting Complex

FNQ FC Heat 2 defeat Western Pride FC 1

Western Pride FC

Goals – Gabriel HAWASH 83’
Yellow cards – Jesse RIGBY 60’, Joel HAACK 80’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Duncan SHORT, 3. Joel HAACK, 4. Corey LUCAS, 5. Douglas BROWN, 6. Jesse RIGBY (15. Jacob MINETT 73’), 7. Adam ENDEAN, 8. Nielen BROWN, 9. Mitchell BIRD (13. Jordan LAMBI 60’), 10. Joseph DUCKWORTH, 11. Geoffrey MCINTYRE (14. Gabriel HAWASH 79’), 12. Alistair WALLIS

Unused – 18. Will MCFARLANE, 20. Dylan WILLIAMS

FNQ FC Heat

Goals – Keiran SANDERS 12’, Joshua PIN 52’
Yellow cards – Joshua PIN 33’, Darcy MCCORMACK 59’, Jamie CARROLL 90+4’
Red cards – none

Squad – 1. Kevin WARD, 2. Shaun OWENS, 3. Shimon WATANABE, 4. Charlie BEVERLEY, 5. Ari ISMAN, 6. Jamie GOSLING, 7. Joshua PIN (13. Mqondisi NKIWANE 79’), 9. Jamie CARROLL, 10. Keiran SANDERS (8. Christopher O’HARE 68’), 11. Darcy MCCORMACK, 16. Bronson KOPPEN

Unused – 12. Cameron NUCIFORA, 20. Joshua WILSON

Match officials – Adam KERSEY (referee), Joey LEE (assistant), Cameron FAWCETT (assistant), Adrian GIELIS (fourth)