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NQ Razorbacks VS Gold Coast Stars
4-3
Playing in front of a home crowd, North Queensland raked in a 4-3 win against the more fancied Gold Coast on Saturday.
Robin Edwards got NQ in front after 19 minutes and looked in good touch to score more goals during the match.
When a controversial refereeing call saw the Stars reduced to ten men the possibility of a Gold Coast win seemed even more unlikely. But the Stars got the advantage back with two goals from Matt Hilton and Liam McCormick to take a hard-fought 2-1 lead into the break.
However, the Razorbacks came back with a spring in their step, clawing back two quick goals immediately into the second half. Supporters could see a big win on the horizon (just their fourth of the season) before Gold Coast Star, John Costello levelled the score in the 80th minute.
In another unlucky refereeing decision, Gold Coast were denied a winning goal in the final minutes of regular time for offside, only to be stung by the Razorbacks on the counter with Jacob Crowley scoring the winner in the 87th minute.
Despite going down to the Razorbacks, the Gold Coast Stars retain third spot on the QSL ladder.
Whitsunday Miners VS Bundaberg Spirit
2-0
Whitsunday have kick started their run at the QSL title once again, with a comfortable 2-0 win against Bundaberg.
Playing away from home, the Miners never looked uncomfortable, wrapping up the game with two first half goals from Clark Bradford.
Enduring their fourth consecutive loss, Bundaberg have struggled to put up a fully fit team for weeks now, with injuries hurting their talented pool of players.
Whitsunday on the other hand, have revelled in a run of good form from Jamie Hatch, Jamie White, Jordan Corte and Clark Bradford.
White and Hatch have both trialled at Hyundai A-League side Gold Coast United and the experience each player has brought to the team will no doubt be an advantage for the Miners going into the pointy end of the season.
Brisbane Strikers VS Capricorn Cougars
5-1
With Brisbane’s win and Sunshine Coast getting the bye in Round 13, Brisbane now sit tied at the top of the QSL ladder on 24 points.
Up in Rockhampton, Brisbane’s Sean Burke played a man-of-the-match performance showing he’s got plenty to offer up front, with three handy goals of his own.
Capricorn simply couldn’t withstand the speed and technical skill of the Strikers. The absence of experienced Cougars captain Trevor Wood due to injury was a big blow for the young team.
The Cougars’ lack of available players due to injury and illness has been a constant headache for coach Washington Gonzales, who recently resigned. CEO of the club Bevan Dingley stepped in as interim coach for the match against Brisbane, players putting on a brave face as they tried to put in a decent performance. The departing Tyler Stross will also be sorely missed by the club, scoring the only goal of the match for the troubled Cougars.
Both in the hunt for the QSL Golden Boot Award, Strikers Matt Thurtell and Chris Di Sipio were again in the thick of it each adding a goal to their name.
FNQ Bulls VS Queensland Academy of Sport
4-2
After a promising draw with Sunshine Coast in Round 12, QAS have slumped to their second straight loss in the last few weeks and are now third-last on the QSL table.
While QAS product Mitch Cooper plays in Mexico for the Joeys at the Under 17 World Cup, Academy have struggled to play consistently each week.
The Bulls came bursting out of the blocks by getting their first in just the 2nd minute and Josiah Rusch put them 2-0 up in the 6th minute.
The ever reliable QAS winger, Brandon Borello got one goal back with a nice run in the box. But the rocky defence of Academy faltered once again allowing Josh De Nittis to get within range and extend the Bulls’ lead to 3-1 at the half.
David Ruiz blew the lead out to 4-1 after the break as FNQ’s speedy strikers ran rings around QAS.
A late goal from Kenneth Dougall was little consolation for QAS who must come back strongly against Capricorn at Meakin Park next week if they are to get back into finals contention.
FNQ meanwhile face a decidedly harder challenge next week, against the undefeated Sunshine Coast Fire up at Kawana.
Sunshine Coast Fire - BYE
Queensland State League Ladder
# | Club Name | G | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
1 | Sunshine Coast FC | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 6 | 27 | 24 |
2 | Brisbane Strikers FC | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 24 |
3 | Gold Coast Stars | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 18 |
4 | Whitsunday Miners | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 18 |
5 | NQ McDonald's Razorbacks | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 15 |
6 | FNQ Bulls | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 15 |
7 | Queensland Academy of Sport | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 14 |
8 | Bundaberg Spirit | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 35 | -27 | 4 |
9 | Capricorn Cougars | 11 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 48 | -38 | 3 |
G = Games Played, W = Win, D = Draw, L = Loss, F = Goals For, A = Goals Against, GD = Goal Difference, P = Points