Words: Blake Birt
Additional Reporting: Karl Gough
Images: FNQ FC Heat

Sam Cronin crashed home a dramatic 87th minute free-kick to hand a 10-man Olympic FC a thrilling 5-4 victory over FNQ Heat at Endeavour Park in Cairns.

The lead changed hands four times in a rollercoaster encounter, with the end result leaving Heat hanging onto a one-point lead at the top of the table.

The action was unrelenting as Jamie Carroll's double lifted him to the top of the goalscorers chart, but the visitors overcome a Heat fightback to make it three unbeaten.

Olympic had to mount their own comeback with just 10 men after Ramon Close was shown a second yellow card shortly after the restart.

With only two wins in their last five matches, Heat's hold on top spot is looking rather tenuous, while Olympic's improving form sees them join a logjam of teams all within one win of each other.

Key Moments

4’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Daniel Byrne opens the scoring with a curling free kick that narrowly evades Kevin Ward's fingertips.

12’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – The upset looks on as Ramon Close places on in the bottom right corner from near the penalty spot

15’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Shaun Owens sends Jamie Carroll through with a fine through ball and the striker fires a finish straight through Nicholas Mooney's hands

42’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Mooney is whistled for illegal handball and Christopher O'Hare profits, receiving the quick free kick and calmly slotting the equaliser

45’+1 – GOAL FOR HEAT – A thrilling first half ends with a lead change as Carroll cheekily chips Mooney from a free kick on the edge of the box

71' – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Matthew Heath is initially denied by Shimon Watanabe's sliding challenge, only to latch onto the rebound and lift his side to parity

76’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Kristen Waters rises highest to nod a free kick into the net

81’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Ari Isman appears to claim a point for the home side, placing a precise effort into the bottom left corner from inside the box

87’ – GOAL FOR OLYMPIC – Sam Cronin claims a famous victory for Olympic, driving a free kick into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out

What They Said

“It was a good game, I'm sure it was exciting for the fans, but a bad result for us really. We'll find out a little bit about the side - about the character - within there. Even though the game was a bit broken today, I think when we watch the highlights we will see we played a lot of good football and created a lot of chances. We just didn't defend too well today and that came back to bite us.” – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach.

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 12

Saturday, 28 May
Endeavour Park, Cairns

FNQ FC Heat – 4 (Jamie CARROLL 15' 45'+1, Christopher O'HARE 40', Ari ISMAN 81')
Olympic FC – 5 (Daniel BYRNE 4', Ramone CLOSE 12', Matthew HEATH 71', Kristen WATERS 76', Sam CRONIN 87')

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - Michael Bozhoff (referee), Chris Dawson (assistant), Chris Doherty-Fisher (assistant), Wayne Kuypers (fourth)