Strikers & Heat In Premiership Showdown

Hiroki Omori (FNQ)

Words: Blake Birt
Images: FNQ FC Heat

Brisbane Strikers or FNQ Heat could have one hand on the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2016 Premiership trophy following their blockbuster clash this weekend.

With only a single point separating the sides and three matches remaining in the regular season, a win for either side at Perry Park could prove to be the deciding factor in each club’s quest for their first silverware in the national second tier.

A Premiership triumph will also secure the winning club the spot as Queensland's representative in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series, which will commence with a home Elimination Final against the Premiers of PlayStation 4 NPL Capital Football.

Only third placed Gold Coast City can reel in Strikers and Heat, but would have to rely on the top two repeatedly slipping up in the closing rounds.

The importance of the Strikers-Heat clash isn’t lost on opposing fullbacks Ari Isman of Heat and Sam Knight of Strikers, who have both been mainstays of their club’s outstanding seasons.

Isman, who joined Heat from regional rivals Northern Fury this season, believes his team is well positioned to push on for the title.

"With a couple of weeks to go it's a massive game for both clubs but ultimately if we play to our strengths we'll be able get the three points and hopefully win the league," Isman said.

When the teams last met in Round 9 Heat came away with a 2-0 win and the memory of that encounter gives Isman belief that his team will do the double over their nearest challenger.

"We're going into the game full of confidence, Strikers are a good side but we've beaten them once already so we're confident we can do the job again."

While Heat have led the competition for much of the season, the margin between first and second has never been more than four points.

Despite that lack of breathing room, Isman insists pressure has never infiltrated the Heat dressing room.

"We've been on top of the table for the whole year, we've just been focusing on us as a team and making sure we win all our games because in the end winning the title is in our own hands."

Nipping hard at Heat's heels are a Strikers side that have built their premiership challenge on impressive defence.

On average Strikers concede less than one goal per game and currently boast a run of four straight clean sheets, that included a tricky mid-week away trip to Darwin in the Westfield FFA Cup.

Strikers last conceded a goal in a disappointing Round 17 loss to cross-town rivals Olympic FC, and Knight said that result provided the motivation to refocus their finals charge.

"We were unhappy to drop points against Olympic and these four clean sheets are a massive bonus for us heading into finals time."

Knight was part of last year’s Strikers team that agonisingly finished second to Moreton Bay United on goal difference in the regular season before ultimately losing the Grand Final to the same side.

He believes this season is set up to finish differently. 

"Towards the back end of last season we were hoping for a lot of results but this year if we can win every game (the premiership) will be ours."

While Isman is confident of repeating the Round 9 result, Knight unsurprisingly views the rematch in a different light.

"There are no excuses, Heat were well drilled on the day and they've got a lot of key players that can hurt you. It just wasn't our day but we can do all the right things this week and go top," he concluded.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 20

Brisbane Strikers FC v FNQ FC Heat
Saturday, August 6 | 6:00PM
Perry Park, Brisbane

Watch the match via LIVE STREAM with Queensland Soccer News at youtube.com/queenslandsoccernews




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