Heat and Strikers progress in Queensland

A former Hyundai A-League star scored four goals while there was a big win in Darwin on another massive night of Westfield FFA Cup preliminary round action on Wednesday.

It was ex-Phoenix midfielder Alex Smith who stole the show in Queensland as FNQ Heat cruised to a commanding 6-1 win over Stratford at Barlow Park.

Despite going behind to Jo Rusch’s early penalty, Heat’s class eventually told and they scored three times in each half to edge closer to the round of 32.

Smith started the goal rush on 19 minutes when he slotted into the bottom corner before Crios O’Hare edged them in front soon after.

Smith, the leading scorer in PS4 NPL Queensland got his second 10 minutes before the break, tapping in after O’Hare’s effort hit the post.

The contest was as good as over three minutes into the second half as Smith completed his hat-trick and he added a fourth from the penalty spot late on to complete the rout.

Heat has now set up a mouth-watering showdown with Townsville-based Northern Fury in the next round.

Also in Queensland, Brisbane Strikers have moved to just one win away from a return to the round of 32 after beating Moreton Bay United 2-1 at Perry Park.

In a pulsating clash which could have gone either way it was a brace by Cameron Draper which proved the difference.

The defender opened the scoring after just 13 minutes with a looping header which floated in from Greg King’s pinpoint free-kick.

That lead lasted just 13 minutes as the Jets equalized through Royce Brownlie with a superb glancing header.

Chances were limited in the second half before Draper grabbed the winner eight minutes from time, volleying home from substitute Scot Coulson’s cross to edge the Strikers ahead.

In Darwin, A second-half hat-trick from Peter Roditis helped Darwin Olympic to a thumping 8-1 demolition of Port Darwin.

The undermanned Port stayed in the battle until just before the break – with scores level at 1-1 – before Olympic took control.

Congolese-born striker Kevin Menda scored twice in a minute to make it 3-1 at the break and it became mission impossible for Port early in the second half when defender Brayden Callander was sent off.

An Oldrich Dubsky penalty, a goal for substitute Michael Tsounias and Roditis’ treble completed the scoring as Olympic set-up a huge Darwin decider against Casuarina.

Also in the Top End, Scorpions advanced to the Alice Springs final with a 2-0 win over Vikings with Hilco Muis and Damien Jimenez getting the goals.

Scorpions will next play Celtic, with the winner to meet the victor from the Casuarina-Darwin Olympic clash for the Northern Territory’s spot in the round of 32.