Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Rhys Thomas
Images: Zane Plasto Photography

Christopher O’Hare delivered a hat-trick as FNQ Heat comfortably accounted for Edge Hill United 6-0 at Tiger Park in the Westfield FFA Cup.

Despite heavy rain, Heat made light work of their lower tier opponents in the Preliminary Round 5 clash –effectively wrapping up the result prior to half-time as Darcy McCormack, Mqondisi Nkiwane and O'Hare delivered a three goal advantage.

O’Hare converting twice more to wrap up his hat-trick in the second stanza before Josh Pin added the final goal to ice the win and end Tigers’ best ever run in the national knock-out competition.

The win means Heat are the final team remaining from the Far North Queensland Zone in this year’s Westfield FFA Cup.

They will meet the winner of next week’s Preliminary Round 5 North Queensland zone tie between Northern Fury and Rebels FC in the next round.

Key Moments

19’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Mqondisi Nkiwane’s controls a long-ball from the Heat defence before slipping the ball into the area for Darcy McCormack to tuck away into the bottom corner

22’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Christopher O’Hare’s dipping free-kick is met by a powerful header from Nkiwane from close range giving Tigers goalkeeper Sam Ferguson no chance

45+2’ – GOAL FOR HEAT - A wrap around play in the penalty area is finished by a drive strike from O’Hare into the bottom right hand corner.

49’ – GOAL FOR HEAT - Excellent mazy run from Cameron Nucifora who delivers it to O’Hare who calmly puts it into the bottom left from the edge of the area

65’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Substitute Tigers goalkeeper Ciaran Church prevents a near certain goal by denying Nkiwane with a full-stretched save

77’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – O’Hare gets on to a well-weighted throughball from Shaun Owens and tucks away a left-footed effort into the bottom corner to wrap up his hat-trick

81’ – GOAL FOR HEAT - A long through ball from the left hand side of the Heat defence is met by Joshua Pin, who converts from inside the penalty area

What They Said

“We’ve given the opportunity tonight for a few of the boys that have sat on the bench for a while to come out and show us what they can do. As you can see from the performance they have given me a lot to think about before I select my team for Saturday (in the league).” – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach

Match Details

Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 5

Wednesday, April 20
Tiger Park, Cairns

FNQ FC Heat 6 defeat Edge Hill United SC 0

Heat Goals – DARCY MCCORMACK 19’, Mqondisi NKIWANE 22’, Christopher O’HARE 45+2’ 49’ 77’, Joshua PIN 81’
Heat Yellow Cards – Christopher O’HARE 63’
Heat Red Cards – none

Heat Squad – 3. Shimon WATANABE, 4. Charlie BEVERLEY, 5. Ari ISMAN, 7. Joshua PIN, 8. Christopher O’HARE, 11. Darcy MCCORMACK (10. Kieran SANDERS 49’), 12. Cameron NUCIFORA, 13. Mqondisi NKIWANE, 15. Matthew FILIP, 16. Bronson KOPPEN (2. Shaun OWENS 66’), 20. Joshua WILSON
Heat Unused – 1. Kevin WARD, 6. Jamie GOSLING, 9. Jamie CARROLL

Edge Hill Goals – none
Edge Hill Yellow Cards – Peter LANSANA 22’, Dong Kyung JUNG 63’, David GOGOASA 75’, Garang ASHEEN 86’, Michael ORTIZ 88’
Edge Hill Red Cards – none

Edge Hill Squad – 1. Sam FERGUSON (21. Ciaran CHURCH 46’), 2. Robert WALES, 4. Timothy MALYSIAK, 6. David GOGOASA, 7. Lachlan DOHERTY-KRUSS, 9. Scott WHITE, 10. Michael ORTIZ, 11. Andrew GASKELL, 12. Matthew KERR, 13. Peter LANSANA (8. Garang ASHEEN 51’), 14. Dong Kyung JUNG (15. Guillaume LEONARD 66’)
Edge Hill Unused – 5. Roman KUZMA

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