Drubbing put down to problems off field
FOOTBALL FNQ Heat coach Tim Campbell says his side’s FFA Cup belting is a sign of the additional resources needed to ensure the club is competitive on the biggest stage.
A second-half capitulation condemned the Heat to a 7-2 defeat against Sydney United 58 in their Round of 32 encounter on Wednesday night, showing the gulf between the club and the rest of the nation.
Campbell said there was no excuse for the “comedy of errors” they produced after trailing just 2-1 at halftime, but felt the result would be similar next year unless things improved off the field.
“I think the biggest learning curve from it all is about the club itself and our resources,” he said.
“If the club wants to step up and compete at that level, they have to look at providing better resources for the players and giving them a bit more support.
“But if we just want to keep getting to the Round of 32, we can keep going on like this.”
Campbell said the loss was the culmination of a tough year on and off the field taking its toll, particularly as the club had struggled to field a consistent XI during the season.
“We know we could have done a bit better,” he said.
The Heat started the game with two golden opportunities and took a 1-0 lead when Jamie Carroll scored a headed goal off a Charlie Beverley cross in the 23rd minute, but it only kicked Sydney United into gear and within 10 minutes, they were in the lead.
The home side went berserk on the resumption, scoring two goals in two minutes and by the 58th minute it was 5-1 and the contest was over.
“That first five minutes of the second half just destroyed us,” Campbell said.
The loss was a blow to the likes of defender Jack Glover and goalkeeper Josh Wilson, who have ambitions of moving to the big leagues down south next season, although commentators gave Wilson plenty of plaudits for stunning saves despite conceding seven goals.
FNQ Heat chairman Rob Giason said the players “deserved better” and should be commended for “muscling up” in the first half.
“After that I think the fatigue of all the travel the players have had to do this year and chopping and changing of players every week started to take its toll,” he said.
“The scoreline doesn’t reflect the quality of the team.”
Giason said a lack of funding had proven “problematic” when it came to giving players and coaches the resources they would have liked in 2017.
He said while grateful for the community support they had received, being unable to attract a naming rights sponsor after Aquis was an obvious stumbling block, which had cost the club about $50,000.
Giason said a “white knight” was needed to move the club forward and was confident a link with FNQ Football could help achieve that as part of the new NPL licence for 2018 and beyond.
FNQ Heat return to NPL action on Sunday against winless Sunshine Coast Fire.
IF THE CLUB WANTS TO STEP UP AND COMPETE AT THAT LEVEL, THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT PROVIDING BETTER RESOURCES