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4-1
Saturday saw the Brisbane Strikers defeat Bundaberg Spirit in a convincing 4-1 victory away from home.
Matt Thurtell was the best on field bagging all the goals for the Strikers in an impressive display by the entire team.
Bundaberg Spirit were out to compete though and defended well, only to be broken by the Strikers’ potent attack.
Strikers centre-back Nick Robinson prevented an almost certain goal from Spirit’s Luke Leggett who looked dangerous in the goal square.
The game was far more even than the final result indicates.
In the fifth minute Brisbane Striker Thurtell collected a pass from Carseldine, before beating the defender to open the scoring, 1-0.
Spirit’s coach Tony Roebuck was then banished from the area moments later after arguing with the referee over a throw-in decision that went against his side.
Just before halftime the Strikers extended their lead. Di Sipio lobbed the ball over Thurtell who beat Bundaberg’s Jack Hambrecht to score his second of the night.
After a close first half the home team were hoping to even up the score-sheet and answer the calls of their supportive crowd. But it was the Strikers who extended their lead.
A penalty kick just outside the box was taken well by Brisbane’s Matt Christensen, where that man again, Thurtell was there to head the ball into the net.
The Spirit however did not give up.
In some confusion over a free kick decision after Bundaberg’s Carseldine was taken down, the referee called played on. The ball was lobbed into the area where Menapi’s strike in the corner of the net beat the Strikers' 'keeper.
However, the game was as good as over when Corey Haack was sent off for a overly spirited tackle, reducing Bundaberg to ten men.
Matt Thurtell then put away two more in the 77th and 83rd minute to put the win beyond doubt.
Sunshine Coast Fire VS Far North Queensland
1-1
The Fire’s hot winning streak came to an end on Saturday night, with Far North Queensland holding them to a 1-1 draw.
The Bulls’ home crowd was loud and proud in Mareeba and the support didn’t go unnoticed.
After a nail-biting 61 minutes it went Bulls up 1-0 as David Ruiz struck a spectacular ball from way out to score the opener.
The Fire then found their spark moments later. Substitute forward Judd Molea intercepted a Bulls pass and made his strike from the edge of the box to level the match at 1-1.
Several missed opportunities from both sides meant that the stalemate didn’t break as both teams went away with just a point.
Queensland Academy of Sport VS Capricorn Cougars
2-1
At home in Jardine Park the young Cougars side kept the QAS side working hard for their win.
In an exciting match, QAS’s Brandon Borrello and Mitch Cooper looked threatening thundering down the wing but it was a mistake by the Cougars which led to the first goal.
A pass back to Cougars 'keeper Tim English was intercepted by Borello who managed to avoid two defenders before passing it off to Elliot Ronto who put away the goal for QAS. A fine corner kick from Mitchell Cooper was then converted into a goal with Quinn volleying into the net.
In the second half Capricorn had more possession over QAS and got a goal back through Chris Swain with a left-foot strike. But that’s all the Cougars could manage and QAS came away with the win.
North Queensland Razorbacks VS Whitsunday Miners
3-0
The North Queensland Razorbacks got a 3-0 win over the Whitsunday Miners on Saturday night.
In a fast-paced end to end battle the Razorbacks made their intentions to attack very clear, before Brett Hay came away with a ripper header to net the first goal in the 12th minute.
Two minutes later and controversy struck. Despite protests by players, NQ’s Jacob Crowley’s goal was disallowed, deemed not to have crossed the white line.
The Razorbacks wanting redemption kept ploughing away and earned two goals in the second half thanks to Robin Edwards (80’) and Jake Navarro (88').
Gold Coast VS Southern Cross United
3-1
In front of a vocal crowd on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Gold Coast Stars got the win at Perry Park, extending their unbeaten streak by overcoming Southern Cross United 3-1.
Then in the 9th minute a Southern Cross break up the left side led to a nice cross into the square which beat the pack of defenders and forwards up front, landing perfectly for McCormack, who from a tight angle near the right post, slotted home the goal past Gold Coast keeper Ryan Meskell.
In the 34th minute a cross from the left side was picked up by Gold Coast’s, Lewis Marsh who with great ease smashed the ball into the back of the net to make the score 1-1.
After the half, Gold Coast absolutely smothered Southern Cross. More composed in defence and keeping the pressure on United defenders they looked most likely to break the deadlock.
Gold Coast took the lead in the 67th minute after the ball ricocheted off the United defender and fell at the feet of the Stars’ John Prugh. Prugh converted from just left of the goal post to give Gold Coast a 2-1 lead.
With the relentless pressure on the United defence the Stars extended their advantage in the 85th minute. A free-kick on the left edge of the box was taken quickly and crossed into the square where Lewis Marsh collected his second goal for the afternoon.
Gold Coast Stars coach John Stewart was pleased with his team’s effort in the second half.
“We limited their chances and it gave our wide guys a chance to get forward and the wide guys did quite well for us".
For a full match report and photos click here!
Thanks to Football Queensland and Chris Paul for the footage.
Ladder
# | Club Name | G | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
1 | Sunshine Coast FC | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 13 |
2 | Brisbane Strikers FC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 9 |
3 | NQ McDonald's Razorbacks | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
4 | Gold Coast Stars | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
5 | Queensland Academy of Sport | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 |
6 | Southern Cross United FC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 3 |
7 | FNQ Bulls | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 2 |
8 | Whitsunday Miners | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 2 |
9 | Capricorn Cougars | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | -10 | 1 |
10 | Bundaberg Spirit | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 1 |
G = Games Played, W = Win, D = Draw, L = Loss, F = Goals For, A = Goals Against, GD = Goal Difference, P = Points