Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Jennifer Thompson
Images: Pine Creek Pictures

Captain Jamie Carroll netted a double as the league-leading FNQ Heat cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Northern Fury at Barlow Park.

Fury held their opponents early but soon faded as Heat struck three goals prior to half-time – Carroll’s opener complemented by further strikes to Kieran Sanders and Darcy McCormack.

Carroll converted again midway through the second half as the hosts continued to dominate before substitute Samuel Herlihy found late consolation for Fury with the visitors lone goal.

The win sees Heat remain unbeaten and top of the table for a fifth straight week to further the club’s record start to the campaign.

Meanwhile, Fury remain rooted to the bottom of the table following a fifth straight loss – equalling their worst ever losing streak in the competition’s four seasons.

Key Moments

12’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – Matthew Richards with an early sight on goal for the visitors but puts the chance wide

30’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Bronson Koppen wins possession following an error by the Fury defence, he feeds the ball to Jamie Carroll, who makes no mistake with the finish

36’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Kieran Sanders is played through behind the Fury line and tucks away the finish one-one with Fury Goalkeeper Luke Macdonald

41’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Fury’s Hamish Cassady’s back-pass is pounced on by Darcy McCormack who bears down on goal before slotting his finish into the bottom corner

52’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Jamie Carroll tees up Bronson Koppen for a long-range attempt but it whistles just over the crossbar

66’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Kieran Sanders receives a lobbed pass and again is one-on-one with Luke Macdonald but this time pushes his finish wide of the target

71’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Jamie Carroll receives a direct cross-field ball on the left and dribbles in on goal, drawing in Luke McDonald before deftly chipping home the finish

76’ – GOAL FOR FURY – Samuel Herlihy cuts inside his defender and sneaks his finish past Heat goalkeeper Kevin Ward to tuck in just inside the post.

80’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Mqondisi Nkiwane is given too much space at the top of the box and chances his arm but is denied by a solid save from Luke Macdonald

What They Said

“That was a real tricky game for us. Fury talked about restarting their season today. It had the potential to trip us up and Fury only had one thing in mind, which was to turn us over. But we knew if we played to our potential we’d get the result.“ – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach

“There’s no magic formula. We’ve got to keep working hard and keep believing that what we are doing is the right way. We’ll go back to the drawing board, look at the game and analyse it. We’ll get the boys in and show them the game and then we’ll have to work on a few things again.” – Ian Ferguson, Northern Fury FC coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 5
Saturday, April 2
Barlow Park, Cairns

FNQ FC Heat 4 defeat Northern Fury FC 1

FNQ FC Heat

Goals – Jamie CARROLL 30’ 71’, Kieran SANDERS 36’, Darcy MCCORMACK 44’
Yellow cards - none
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 49’), 9. Jamie CARROLL, 10. Kieran SANDERS, 11. Darcy MCCORMACK, 16. Bronson KOPPEN (12. Cameron NUCIFORA 59’)

Unused – 19. Liam WHITE, 18. Jack GLOVER, 20. Joshua WILSON,

Northern Fury FC

Goals -Samuel HERLIHY 75’
Yellow cards – Darren WALKER 90+2’
Red cards - none

Squad – 1. Luke Macdonald, 2. Caleb HOBSON, 4. George DALTON, 8. Jae EURELL (13. Charles SLANEY 86’), 9. Matthew RICHARDS, 10. Benjamin STANLEY, 11. Jonathon BAGLEY, 12. Joseph THORNTON (14. Samuel HERLIHY 45’), 15. Corey WAPLES, 17. Hamish CASSADY (5. Thomas PEARCE 45’), 18. Darren WALKER

Unused – 20 Ryan MURPHY

Match Officials – Matthew SKINNER (referee), Chris DAWSON (assistant), Michael BOZHOFF (assistant), Wayne KUYPERS (fourth)