The Sunshine Coast Fire have booked another Grand Final against the Brisbane Strikers, after claiming a 4-1 victory over the Whitsunday Miners in dreadful conditions in Kawana.
Tyson Holmes made amends for his penalty miss last week with an excellent hat-trick, while Jason Hicks also got on the scoreboard for the home side. For the visitors, Troy Mundy notched during the first-half.
The result will see the Sunshine Coast once again face the Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park in the Grand Final, for the third time in four years. The Final will take place at 7pm on Saturday August 27, and a win for the Fire will secure a third Premiership/Championship double.
The defensive lineup for the Fire remained the same as it has in previous weeks, with Alex Henderson and Ryan Smith in the centre and Sam Knight and James Stinson as fullbacks. Greig Henslee, Dylan Roberts and Leon Dwyer made up the midfield, while Tyson Holmes played a more forward role alongside Jason Hicks and behind Shaun Blackman.
The defensive lineup for the Fire remained the same as it has in previous weeks, with Alex Henderson and Ryan Smith in the centre and Sam Knight and James Stinson as fullbacks. Greig Henslee, Dylan Roberts and Leon Dwyer made up the midfield, while Tyson Holmes played a more forward role alongside Jason Hicks and behind Shaun Blackman.
From the opening whistle, it was clear that standing water was going to be a problem on the waterlogged pitch. In the early exchanges, it took players some time to find their range with passes and maintain possession.
After five minutes of play and with neither side managing a shot on goal, the Fire hit the front through Tyson Holmes. Jason Hicks raced to collect a loose ball just outside the Miners penalty area, before slipping a pass to Holmes who had rushed into the left of the penalty area undetected. Holmes settled before tucking a well-placed shot inside the right post, giving Miners keeper Brad Moss no hope to make a save.
In the following minutes, Whitsunday were not afraid to get stuck in as they searched for an equaliser. Dangerous midfielder Clark Bradford lashed an effort over the bar from 20 yards after 10 minutes of play.
As the Sunshine Coast began to get on top in the midfield battle, Holmes aimed a long ball towards Shaun Blackman, who connected strongly with a header from six yards out that Moss did well to save.
On 19 minutes the contest was all square, when the Miners won a throw in on the right flank and raced the ball down to the corner flag, before sending in a cross towards target man Troy Mundy. Mundy produced a fine finish as he headed past Fire keeper Antony Hall to tie the fixture up.
With the middle of the pitch beginning to resemble a swamp, the Miners began to find some traction and were holding their own. Jamie Hatch forced a save from Hall when he shot accurately from 20 yards. Soon after, Whitsunday broke quickly through Jordan Corte who outpaced the defence to move into the penalty area and shoot, but Hall was again up to the challenge.
With 10 minutes to play in the first half, the heavens opened once again and the match was played in teeming rain. From 30 yards out, Holmes had an audacious free-kick clawed acrobatically away from the top corner by Moss, and the scores remained 1-1.
On the brink of half-time, an erratic back-pass from Nelson Burgess won a corner for the Sunshine Coast. Jason Hicks sent the ball into the danger area, but it clipped the crossbar and went out of play.
Early in the second half, there was a lot of wide play as both sides looked to exploit the comparatively drier turf out on the wings.
52 minutes in, the Sunshine Coast broke the deadlock through Hicks. On a quick counter-attack, Hicks rushed down the middle before sending in a low shot from outside the area that Moss reached but couldn’t keep away from the back of the net.
It was 3-1 barely five minutes later, as Dylan Roberts slid a pass to Hicks who ran down to the left corner flag before sending in a low cross that Holmes bundled into the net for his second goal.
With half an hour to play and the Sunshine Coast holding a comfortable two-goal lead, Whitsunday began to drop off the pace a little, while the Fire were content to hold possession and counter when possible. For Whitsunday, Sean Hughes nearly halved the deficit when he sent in an early cross from the left flank that almost curled into the top corner, but Hall scrambled and punched it away.
As the minutes ticked down and the exertion began to show for both sides, Holmes completed his hat-trick in sterling fashion. He collected a neat diagonal pass and moved in on goal, before driving an unstoppable shot inside the left post from 18 yards to sew up a convincing 4-1 victory for the Fire, and yet another Grand Final berth against perennial rivals, the Brisbane Strikers.
Fire coach Richard Hudson was delighted with his teams endeavour, and congratulated the Whitsunday Miners for a plucky effort in their first QSL finals series.
“After last week’s disappointment, the football gods were watching us today. I thought we played well, it wouldn’t have been a nice game to watch because of the conditions, but we created a lot of chances. Next week will be difficult, the Strikers have had the week off, they’ll be well rested. We’ll regroup at training during the week, see where we’re at, and then head to Brisbane and try and get the trophy.”
Saturday night will see the 2011 Queensland State League Champions crowned, when the Fire and Strikers again do battle at Perry Park. With two Grand Final victories at Perry Park already, the Fire know what it takes to bring home the QSL trophy.
FINAL SCORE: Sunshine Coast FC – 4 (Holmes, 5, 57, 85, Hicks, 52)
Whitsunday Miners – 1 (Mundy, 19)
LINEUP -
Antony Hall, James Stinson, Ryan Smith, Alex Henderson, Sam Knight, Leon Dwyer, Greig Henslee, Dylan Roberts, Jason Hicks, Tyson Holmes, Shaun Blackman.
SUBS - Kota Shibahashi for Jason Hicks (81’), Daniel King for Shaun Blackman (87’).
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