Words: Michael Flynn
Additional Reporting: Aaron Cooper
Images: Andrew Shaw

An early goal from Shimon Watanabe has delivered FNQ Heat a crucial 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar Youth at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Watanabe headed home inside the opening five minutes for the visitors before a tense and tactical battle ensued for much of the remaining contest.

Young Roar were denied the chance to claim a share of the points in the closing stages when Harrison Sawyer’s volley was dramatically denied by Heat goalkeeper Kevin Ward.

Heat are just the second team to defeat Young Roar at home this season, with the result ensuring they maintain their hold on top spot in the league with just four league matches remaining.

For Young Roar, the result marks a fourth straight match without a win and leaves their hopes of qualifying for the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series hanging by a thread in ninth place.

Key Moments

3’ – CHANCE FOR YOUNG ROAR – Dylan Wenzel-Halls chases the ball down before setting up Nicholas Panetta one-on-one with Heat goalkeeper Kevin Ward, who saves the shot from an acute angle

4’ – GOAL FOR HEAT – Christopher O’Hare blocks an attempted clearance from the Young Roar defence before squaring the ball for Shimon Watanabe to head home at point blank range

35’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – Watanabe rises highest as the ball is whipped into the area from a free-kick but his head is narrowly wide of the upright

54’ – CHANCE FOR HEAT – O’Hare breaks into the penalty area before pulling the trigger from 15 yards but sends the shot high of the target

87’ – CHANCE FOR YOUNG ROAR – Jesse Daley’s low ball in from the right wing finds Harrison Sawyer but his volley is denied by a stunning reflex save from Ward

What They Said

“We weren’t anywhere near the way we play. It was purely down to our structures and people not following the way we want to play. I don’t think we brought our best game to the football which is a shame when we come up against the top side because I thought we could have taken something from the game if we sticked to what our plan was from the start.” – Josh McCloughan, Brisbane Roar FC Youth coach

““We shared the possession in the first half and had three really good chances and took one of them and in the second half I thought we had a really good set up. We maybe could have done better with our set pieces but credit to the Roar in the last 15 minutes, they changed shape and started to get the ball forward a little quicker. Even though I don’t think it would have been a fair result, they had the chance to sneak a draw but we had a good save at the end. I think it was a deserved win.” – Tim Campbell, FNQ FC Heat coach

Match Details

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 18

Saturday, July 23
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

Brisbane Roar FC Youth – 0
FNQ FC Heat – 1 (Shimon WATANABE 4’)

Match Centre - http://bit.ly/29ZnkqH

Match Officials – Jarred GILLETT (referee), Ben ORWELL (assistant), James MAINEY (assistant), Joseph LEE (fourth)