Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Bryan Marriage & Paul Smith
Images: Paul Smith

A four minute two goal blitz has seen SWQ Thunder record the upset of the season – downing league leaders FNQ Heat 2-0 at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

The hosts struck approaching the final quarter hour of the contest via Majok Piok before Thunder’s leading goalscofer Mustafa Jafari made sure of the win just minutes later.

Heat’s hopes of a comeback were foiled immediately after the second goal when Charlie Beverley was shown a second yellow card for dissent.

The result marks Thunder's first ever win over Heat in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues matches and ends a four match losing streak for the Toowoomba club.

For Heat the defeat is only their second of the campaign, however the Cairns-based outfit will retain their place atop the standings with the competition reaching the half-way point at the conclusion of the round.

Key Moments

18' - CHANCE FOR THUNDER – ball is intercepted in the midfield, and the resulting one two play results in shot by Thomas Fanning from 25 yards, which goes wide to the left

21' - CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Xavier Pratt runs against his marker down the left side line, beating him and coming to the penalty box crossing to Majok Piok at the far post for a free header but is put just wide of the ride side upright

26' - CHANCE FOR FNQ HEAT – Cross from the right hand side draws the Thunder goalkeeper Luke Borean out and in the scramble loses his footing while the ball falls to Joshua Pin, who, with all Thunder defenders in goal, puts the ball well over

35' - CHANCE FOR FNQ HEAT – Darcy McCormack beats offside trap with just the keeper to go, shoots to the bottom right hitting the post and going out behind

38' - CHANCE FOR FNQ HEAT – McCormack gets the ball on the run beating the defence, shooting from 20 yards out to the top left, requiring a diving save from Borean who gets a hand to it putting it out and forcing the corner

73' - GOAL FOR THUNDER – Ball in from Tom Fanning on the left wing finds Majok Piok just outside the box and directly in front of goal. Piok gets under the ball, the shot taking a deflection off the defender to chip the keeper

74' - CHANCE FOR FNQ HEAT – Christopher O’Hare shoots from 25 yards right in front, parried away by Luke Borean

77' - GOAL FOR THUNDER - Fanning runs down the left side and passes it into the box to Mustafa Jafari who shoots from 20 yards and puts it into the top left

77’ – RED CARD FOR HEAT - Charlie Beverley is shown the yellow card for the second time for decent towards the assistant referee

88' - CHANCE FOR THUNDER – Adam Daly crosses from the left to Jafari at the right corner of the inner rectangle and with just the keeper to beat shoots to the top right, but Kevin Ward makes a great save to put it behind for a corner

What They Said

“The boys put in a very good effort there. The work rate from back to front was very good and I can’t fault anyone’s performance tonight, which is very pleasing. It definitely makes you happy when the boys are backing you up each week. Last week was a bit of a hiccup and the way we responded this week was very good.“ – Keagan Sheridan, SWQ Thunder FC captain

“I think Thunder got in amongst us a little bit. They certainly rattled us and defended really well and then caught us twice on the break. But it was a very deserved win I think “ – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 11

Saturday, May 21
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

SWQ Thunder FC – 2 (Majok PIOK 73’, Mustafa Jafari 77’)
FNQ FC Heat – 0

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - Ben Cook (referee), Ethan Quinlan (assistant), Kehan Ryley (assistant), Danielle Potticary (fourth)