Only two rounds remain in the 2011 HQSL season, and the Sunshine Coast Fire are once again within striking distance of winning the Premiership.
The equation is now simple for the Fire – beat the Bundaberg Spirit and avoid defeat against the Brisbane Strikers to claim a third Premiers Plate in four years.
The Fire missed the opportunity to all but secure the Premiership last round, falling 2-0 to a determined Whitsunday Miners side in Mackay. Fortunately for the Sunshine Coast, the second-placed Brisbane Strikers failed to capitalise as they were defeated 1-0 by a last-minute goal in their game with the Gold Coast Stars.
In Mackay last Saturday, Whitsunday were keen to avenge the controversial 1-1 draw that the two sides played out in Round 8. As was the case in that game, the match remained scoreless until late in the second half when the Miners scored twice to end the Fire’s resistance and put themselves in a strong position to play finals football.
With a two-point competition lead and two games to play, the Fire now must hold their nerve this Sunday against the Bundaberg Spirit. Equal with the Capricorn Cougars at the foot of the HQSL ladder, the Spirit have managed only one win and one draw this season, conceding 54 goals in the process.
Bundaberg have suffered heavy defeats against QAS and the FNQ Bulls in the last few rounds, before scraping a 3-3 draw with Capricorn on the weekend. As their depleted squad limps towards the end of the season, the Fire will be looking to capitalise and control the fixture.
The teams last met in Bundaberg in Round Nine, with the Fire coming home comfortable 3-0 winners. With the Spirit averaging less than a goal per game in 2011, a strong opening half from the Fire may kill off Bundaberg’s resistance.
Last week’s loss against Whitsunday was the first time the Fire have failed to score in a match all season, a record which the side will be keen to make amends for come Sunday.
Kick-off for the Round 18 fixture will be at 2pm on Sunday July 21 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
As for the Fire’s youth teams, victory last week assured a four-point competition lead for the Sunshine Coast Under-19s. A win against the Bundaberg Spirit this week would all but assure the boys are crowned Premiers. Kick-off for their match with the Spirit will be at 4pm, directly after the senior’s game.
The Gympie Fire are also in action this weekend after their last match was postponed. The Fire will face South West Queensland in Gympie on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.
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