Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Karl Gough & Jennifer Thompson
Image: Getty Images

FNQ Heat are one win away from a third straight Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 appearance after rolling Northern Fury 5-1 at Barlow Park.

Christopher O’Hare and Jamie Carroll both struck doubles for Heat, while Joshua Pin also got on the scoresheet, as the hosts ran away with the contest to record their biggest ever win over Fury.

The visitors fielded a large number of youth players for the tie and their only consolation came shortly after the hour with the tie all but decided as Corey Waples found the back of the net.

The result marks the third straight year that Heat after eliminated their PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues rivals from the Westfield FFA Cup – and the second time Heat have defeated Fury this year in a competitive match.

Heat will host Rockhampton-based Frenchville SC in Westfield FFA Cup Preliminary Round 7, with the winner advancing to the national Round of 32 which marks the entry points of the ten Hyundai A-League clubs.

Key Moments

4’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Matthew Filip crosses into Christopher O’Hare who turns in headed finish inside the back post

10’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Mqondisi Nkiwane heads home from a cross to seemingly double the advantage but it is disallowed after the Heat attacker strayed offside

22’ – CHANCE FOR FURY – Josh Stanley looks to chip Heat goalkeeper Joshua Wilson with a free-kick from 25 yards but it clears the crossbar

47’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – O’Hare plays in Jamie Carroll with a well-placed through-ball and the Heat skipper makes no mistake by slotting the finish past Luke McDonald

59’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Carroll takes off on a blistering 40 yard run before making no mistake with the finish past McDonald

62’ – GOAL FOR FURY – Corey Waples pulls a goal back for the visitors

74’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Josh Pin ends any thoughts of a Fury fightback by converting from the edge of the area with a shot that just sneaks in at the far post

81’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Carroll skirts along the byline before squaring to O’Hare to tap home for his brace and seal the win

What They Said

“I think that we’re trying to make any home game in Cairns a fortress for us. We don’t like conceding goals here and we certainly don’t like teams to think they can win up here. Any team that comes up here is going to have a challenge that’s for sure. We’re confident, we play well and we know that we’re competitive – so against any team here we are in with a chance.“ – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach

“We’ll take a few positives out of that. We had eight youth team players with us in the squad and we used nearly every single one.“ – Ian Ferguson, Northern Fury FC coach

Match Details

Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 6

Sunday, May 8
Barlow Park, Cairns

FNQ FC Heat – 5 (Christopher O’HARE 4’ 81’, Jamie CARROLL 47’ 59’, Joshua PIN 74’)
Northern Fury FC – 1 (Corey WAPLES 62’)

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials – Chris DAWSON (referee), Michael BOZHOFF (assistant), Chris DOHERTY-FISHER (assistant)