Words: Michael Flynn
Images: Football Federation Northern Territory

Brisbane Strikers are the first Queensland club through to Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 this year following a record equalling 6-0 triumph over Rovers Darwin at Darwin Football Stadium.

Strikers controlled the contest from the opening whistle as they matched the highest winning margin in the national stages of the competition of six goals - a mark twice achieved previously by Melbourne Victory.

The foundations were layed down early as the visitors stormed to a three goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes through Rhys Meredith, Hiroki Omori and Grieg Henslee.

Rovers found greater impetus on the counter attack after the restart but hopes of a comeback faded after the hour as Matthew Cawley turned the ball into his own net.

Strikers Substitutes Luke Marsh and Jonti Richter rounded out the result with a further two goals in the closing minutes to the delight of the small contingent of travelling Strikers supporters.

The result marks the second time in three years Strikers have advanced to the Round of 16 and spells the end of Rovers Westfield FFA Cup dream in their first appearance on the national stage.

Key Moments

2’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Meredith gets in behind the Rovers line and touches past onrushing Rovers goalkeeper Matt Ashton but his angled shot goes wide of the near post

10’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Meredith is felled on the edge of the area and his subsequent free-kick is bound for the bottom corner by Ashton at full-stretch pushes it wide

12’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – A miscued strike from Sam Knight evades the Rovers defence and is capitalised on by Meredith who takes a touch before tucking the ball home

14’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – A thoughball releases Hiroki Omori who beats Ashton with a poked finish to double the advantage in quick time

18’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Grieg Henslee adds his name to the scoresheet from a corner with a header at the back post that deflects off a Rovers defender to wrong foot Ashton

22’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Fraser Hills steals possession inside the Rovers penalty area but after a sharp turn sees his shot curl wide of the top corner

40’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Ball is lobbed into the penalty area on the second phase and is met by the head of Meredith but the balls loops over the crossbar

47’ – CHANCE FOR ROVERS – an early sight on goal to open the second stanza for the hosts but Robert Ward blazes high and wide from 20 yards

57’ – CHANCE FOR ROVERS – The hosts threaten on the counter attack as Ward squares to Warren Barry on the edge of the penalty area but Strikers goalkeeper Michael Weier gets down well to make the save

65’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Luke Marsh sees his header from corner cleared off the line before the second phase ends up with McLean on the edge of the area but his shot is blocked

67’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – Fraser Hills squared ball is met by Jonathon Richter at the near post but his back-heel flick scoots across the face

68’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Richter gets in behind the line and his shot on the angle looks to be covered but Matthew Cawley gets his intervention all wrong and turns it into his own net

80’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Richter touches the ball over his marker for Luke Marsh, who takes a touch before smashing home a solid finish

83’ – GOAL FOR STRIKERS – Richter pounces on a deflection on the edge of the area and hits his spot into the bottom corner with a pin-point finish

87’ – CHANCE FOR STRIKERS – A well-worked build-up sees Richter touch on for Omori but his strike from 15 yards his saved by Ashton

Match Details

Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Round of 32

Wednesday, July 27
Darwin Football Stadium, Darwin

Rovers Darwin FC - 0
Brisbane Strikers FC – 6 (Rhys MEREDITH 12', Hiroki OMORI 14', Grieg HENSLEE 18', own goal 67', Luke MARSH 81', Jonti RICHTER 88')

Attendance – 1,358

Match Centre – http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Rovers-Darwin-FC-v-Brisbane-Strikers/862153