QSL: Gold Coast jump into third spot

Round 12 of the Queensland State League separated the contenders from the rest.

Gold Coast Stars VS Bundaberg Spirit
4-1
Last week they sat sixth on the ladder, but after their 4-1 victory over Bundaberg, Gold Coast have moved into third spot on the QSL table.

Gold Coast were favourites going into the match, and delivered a timely win against an under-strength Bundaberg Spirit.

The Stars dominated the first half, taking a 2-0 lead with goals to Matt Hilton and John Costello.

Gold Coast showed their skill in classy set pieces but unfortunately failed to extend the lead. When Bundaberg scored their first nine minutes after the break, it looked like Bundaberg would stage a comeback.

But McCormack and Hilton ensured there would be no miracle win for the visitors, knocking in the final two goals of the match.


Brisbane Strikers VS FNQ Bulls
2-0
Brisbane held off Far North Queensland Bulls with a 2-0 win in an entertaining tussle at home.

The late exclusion of Strikers Sean Burke and Ben Griffin due to injury was not to plan and Ryan Mottin and Matt Christensen were forced to come in as replacements. While this left few substitutes on the bench, Brisbane luckily had players from the youth side ready to fill the void.

The feisty FNQ Bulls came out of the blocks firing, putting plenty of pressure on Strikers’ defence early.

The goalkeepers shone on the night, with both Jack Richards and Brendan White each coming up with fantastic saves for their team.

Bulls had their fair share of opportunities to take the lead but didn’t capitalise on their chances. Ruing missed goals, the Bulls were then caught napping when Chris Maher crossed into the box for Chris di Sipio to convert with a magnificent volley from 20 metres out to give Strikers the lead.

Bulls’ Josh De Nittis desperately went searching for the equaliser but again Brisbane kept them goalless.

Just before the half, off a Di Sipio pass Brisbane’s Matt Thurtell found space in the box, when a heavy challenge from FNQ’s Kane Alderton brought him tumbling down. Without hesitation the referee pointed to the spot and Thurtell calmly extended the lead to 2-0.

Into the second half, Thurtell went off with an abdominal injury. Brisbane gallantly held off a late surge from Bulls, particularly from the pacey David Ruiz and Joe Rusch as they pushed play deep into the Strikers’ half. But the Strikers managed to hold on, much to the delight of local fans.


Whitsunday Miners VS Capricorn Cougars
5-0
Lately it hasn’t gone to plan for the Whitsunday Miners. After making a claim for the 2011 title with some emphatic victories over top teams in the QSL, they have since failed to live up to the hype.

But on Saturday, Whitsunday returned to winning form with a decisive 5-0 victory over Capricorn Cougars.

Best on field had to be Clark Bradford who bagged three goals for his team at Harrup Park.

Whitsunday took a commanding 4-0 lead into the second half and never looked like losing from there, creating plenty of chances across the park.

The Miners’ other goals came from a brilliant header from Jamie White, and an own goal just before the half from a frazzled Cougar defence.

When Whitsunday’s Jamie Hatch went off injured in the 80th minute Capricorn had a chance to get a goal back playing against just ten men. The Cougars however were simply unable to compete against Whitsunday’s solid defence.

The win will bring a lot of confidence into the side and will most certainly go in as favourites for their clash against Bundaberg next week.


Sunshine Coast Fire VS Queensland Academy of Sport
1-1
With a big turnout at the redeveloped Sunshine Coast Stadium, top of the table Fire were hoping to come away with a win against the ever-competitive Academy team.

However both sides shared the points on Sunday after a late goal salvaged a draw for the QAS youngsters.

Sunshine Coast took the lead in the 29th minute through Greig Henslee, but QAS were not going to be easy-beats, fighting hard to stay in the match until the half.

Then just as everything looked to be going well for the Fire, early into the second term Sunshine Coast’s goal scorer Henslee, was dramatically sent off for a dangerous tackle from behind.

With just ten players on the pitch, Sunshine Coast were then on the back foot.

It was no surprise then that the speedy Brandon Borrello was the man ready to make the most of the opportunity putting away the equaliser late in regular time.


NQ Razorbacks – BYE