Three fixtures remain for the Sunshine Coast Fire in the 2011 HQSL season, and it doesn’t get much tougher than this week’s trip north to take on the in-form Whitsunday Miners.
With a slender two-point competition lead, this Saturday’s clash looms as a danger game, with the Fire facing the Bundaberg Spirit and Brisbane Strikers in the rounds to follow.
Rarely out of first gear in their 5-0 win over the Capricorn Cougars last week, the Fire were nevertheless clinical in front of goal and seem to have recovered from a mid-season lull in form. The boys travelled to the Gold Coast to take on the Stars a fortnight ago and returned home with an impressive 4-0 victory, suggesting that winning away from Kawana will not be a problem.
The Miners now sit in fifth place, well within striking distance of finals football. With three wins and a draw from their last four matches, Whitsunday are finding form at the right time but will need to force a result against the Sunshine Coast to remain confident of a finals berth.
Despite being reduced to 10 men in their fixture with the Gold Coast last week, Whitsunday produced a three-goal second half to run out 3-1 winners, and will be riding a wave of confidence on Saturday night.
The Fire and Miners last met in Round 8, in a game that ended in controversial circumstances. Whitsunday held a 1-0 lead after 90 minutes of football, before the Fire equalised from the penalty spot with the last kick of the match deep into injury time. The Miners camp was enraged by the decision, believing that the allotted injury time had already passed when the penalty was awarded.
The memory of Round 8 will no doubt be strong motivation for the Whitsunday side, and the Fire can expect the home side to come out all guns blazing in their crusade for a finals place. As for the Sunshine Coast, the side needs no more motivation than the prospect of defending their HQSL title, and victory on Saturday will go a long way to helping the boys realise this dream.
Kick-off for the Round 17 clash is set for 7pm on Saturday July 16. The game will be played at Harrup Park in Mackay.
Meanwhile, both the Sunshine Coast and Gympie Fire Under-19s are in action this weekend. The Sunshine Coast Fire produced a last-gasp win over the Logan Strikers last weekend to remain top of the table, and this Sunday will look to consolidate their position as they face the Gold Coast Under-19s. The match will kick off at Carrara Stadium at 4.30pm on Sunday July 17.
The Gympie Fire are coming off a bye, and will be keen to finish off their inaugural season in style over the next few weeks. They face the Sunshine Coast Zone side this Saturday, with their match kicking off at 2pm at Buderim Wanderers Football Club.
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