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QSL: In Round Eighteen, there was still plenty of action to be had in all four matches. Sunshine Coast Fire 7 – 0 Bundaberg Spirit
Bundaberg could do nothing but watch as Sunshine Coast broke the Spirit and ran out 7-0 winners at home on Sunday afternoon.
Sunshine Coast demolished the fragile Bundaberg side taking a 6-0 lead after the first half.
Musson got his first goal from close range, and was followed a few minutes later by Henslee who pounced on a precision cross with a well timed header ruffling the back of the net.
Gareth Musson, Tyson Holmes and Henslee all got two goals each in the dominant display.
Bundaberg tried time and time again to push the ball out of their half, but could do nothing to stop the onslaught of Sunshine Coast players who ruthlessly took advantage of their injury stricken and inexperienced opponents.
Five minutes after the break Sam Knight struck with a goal of his own in the 50th minute. After that moment the Fire took their foot off the pedal and despite setting up several more chances, failed to finish as well as they had done in the first half.
The win puts Sunshine Coast in a positive frame of mind after their shock loss to Whitsunday in Round 17. Next the Fire will face Brisbane Strikers in a top of the table blockbuster next week.
Gold Coast Stars were unable to convert their chances in their 1-0 loss to Queensland Academy of Sport at Meakin Park on Sunday afternoon.
Bolstered by the return of injured players, and coming off an unlikely victory over Brisbane Strikers last week, Gold Coast entered the match as hot favourites. It was a slow start for the Academy team with Gold Coast gifted more time in their opponent’s half.
Throughout the match the ball could be seen popping up on the uneven surface, making pin-point passing a difficult feat and contributing to a handful of mistimed shots from either side.
QAS were simply left ball watching as Gold Coast ran riot in the midfield and set themselves up, time and time again deep in enemy territory, with Academy relying solely on counter attack moving forward.
Both teams entered the locker rooms deflated at half time with the score still at 0-0. Though struggling in the first half, QAS lifted their tempo and had a lot more spring in their step in the second term.Then against the run of play Kenneth Dougall got a goal for Academy. From 30 odd metres out, his curling penalty kick caught the Stars ‘keeper, David Chambers, off guard and flat footed. Chambers reacted too late as the ball found its way into the bottom left corner of the net.
A flourish of corners up the opposite end for Gold Coast threatened to result in an anti-climatic draw late in the match. But Jakob Smith was solid at the back for Academy, and his team held off the late surge to come away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
QAS Coach Darren Davies is proud of his team’s achievements and is looking forward to the challenge that awaits them in the finals.
“We’ve played a good brand of football all year, we’ve picked up more points this year per games than any other season in the QSL, so for my boys, I’m very happy,
“We look forward to competing in the finals and hopefully doing well,” Davies said.
North Queensland Razorbacks 1 – 0 Capricorn Cougars
The Razorbacks might be out of finals contention, but they ended their season on a high defeating Capricorn in Cougar territory on Saturday.
No matter how much the young Cougars tried, Jardine Park was hardly a fortress for Capricorn this year and Saturday proved no different.
The Razorbacks got the first and only goal of the match from David Han. The midfielder found good position in the penalty area to meet a cross whipped in by Jacob Crowley, and score with a header for NQ in the 33th minute.
Considering Capricorn had conceded 20 goals in the last four rounds, the Cougars will take pride in the fact the score-line did not blowout after the Razorbacks got the lead in the first half.
The home side couldn’t get on the front foot though and when they went down to ten men in the final minutes with Jordan Polkinghorne red-carded, the Razorbacks had the win sealed.
As his performance comes under review head coach of NQ Ken Mitchell has confirmed his intentions to continue his role next year, to help develop their young squad. However whether or not the club feels the same way is yet to be known.
Brisbane Strikers 2 – 1 Whitsunday Miners
The Strikers showed their class in their triumphant 2-1 win over Whitsunday Miners at Perry Park on Saturday night.
Brisbane got the early goal off a well executed set piece from a penalty kick. The curling kick from 35 metres out was met by the leaping Sean Burke who headed it goal-wards. The Miners’ ‘keeper then collected but fumbled the ball for Strikers’ captain Ben Griffin to knock away for a goal.
The Miners did not fold though. Led by Jamie White and Sean Hughes they pursued a goal in response to the Strikers and in the 23rd minute they got it. Jamie White bamboozled the Brisbane wingers to squeeze through a cross which the unmarked Troy Mundy confidently headed into goal.
Right before half time, Matt Thurtell showed his skill from close range, scoring the winning goal for Strikers.
The Miners dominated much of the second period, sitting for long periods in the Strikers’ half, but just couldn’t turn their possession into goals amid Brisbane’s towering defenders. Towards the end of the match Brisbane commanded proceedings once again and ensured a hard fought victory in front of a vocal home crowd.
Next week Strikers play a final catch-up match in Kawana against last year’s QSL champions and a win will see Brisbane crowned the 2011 Premiers.
Match Highlights courtesy of Football Queensland.
BYE - FNQ Bulls
QSL Ladder
| # | Club Name | G | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P |
| 1 | Sunshine Coast FC | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 51 | 11 | 40 | 33 |
| 2 | Brisbane Strikers FC | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 43 | 17 | 26 | 31 |
| 3 | FNQ Bulls | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 23 | 17 | 27 |
| 4 | Queensland Academy of Sport | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 26 | 9 | 26 |
| 5 | Whitsunday Miners | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 21 | 6 | 25 |
| 6 | Gold Coast Stars | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 23 | 2 | 23 |
| 7 | NQ McDonald's Razorbacks | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 36 | 31 | 5 | 20 |
| 8 | Bundaberg Spirit | 15 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 61 | -49 | 4 |
| 9 | Capricorn Cougars | 16 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 69 | -56 | 4 |
2011 QSL Finals Series
Weekend of 6th and 7th August | ||
Match A (1st Leg) | 1st Place | 2nd Place |
Match B | 3rd Place | 6th Place |
Match C | 4th Place | 5th Place |
Weekend of 13th and 14th August | ||
Match D (2nd Leg) | 1st Place | 2nd Place |
Match E | Winner Match B | Winner Match C |
Weekend of 20th and 21st August | ||
Match F | Loser Match D | Winner Match E |
Weekend of 27th and 28th August | ||
Grand Final | Winner Match D | Winner Match F |