Hyundai Queensland State League – Round Sixteen
Queensland Academy of Sport v Sunshine Coast Fire
Saturday, July 10, 2010 – 7pm
With the Hyundai Queensland State League finals drawing ever closer, the Sunshine Coast Fire last week provided a timely reminder that they are still very much the team to beat.
On the back of a loss and a draw against the North Queensland Razorbacks and Bundaberg Spirit, the Fire recorded a comfortable 4-1 victory at home to get back on the winners list. The Fire took an early lead and never looked like relenting the three points.
The next task for the Sunshine Coast is overcoming a young Queensland Academy of Sport side, who possess the necessary talent to cause an upset.
QAS are off the finals pace in fifth position on the HQSL ladder, eight points behind the fourth-placed FNQ Bulls. Although with two games in hand over the leading teams, QAS still have a remote chance of playing finals football, but will need to string together some wins to make this a reality.
In the two games the teams have contested this season, the Fire have come from behind to snatch victory at the death. A second-half hat-trick from Yuta Gonai brought the Fire back from the brink in Round 2, and a late winner from Shaun Blackman was the difference between the sides in Round 9.
In both games, the Fire were reduced to 10 men and yet still managed to find the goals necessary to get up for a win.
QAS boast an even spread of goal-scorers, although Ben Halloran has done the most damage for the side this season, netting eight times including a double in Round 9 against the Fire.
As for the Fire, last round’s 4-1 victory settled some nerves and helped the club regain some of the momentum which has been gathering all season. The team will head to Slacks Creek well aware that victory will go a long way toward securing the HQSL Premiership, with the current 10-point lead with six fixtures remaining already looking very difficult to chase down.
The Fire’s already potent attack has been bolstered by the signing of midfielder Drew Laurence and the return of forward Jai Cross, who was forced to take leave from the club earlier in the season due to work commitments.
Kickoff for the Round 16 clash is at 7pm on Saturday, July 10 at Meakin Park in Slacks Creek. The Under-19 Fire will do battle with QAS at 5pm in a curtain-raiser to the contest.
The Fire slaughtered the Logan Strikers 8-1 last round, and in doing so cut Brisbane’s premiership lead to four points. The boys will be intent on returning home victorious, to keep the pressure up on Brisbane as the season nears its end.
