QSL: Top six teams confirmed

Round Seventeen has seen the top six teams in the QSL  finalised despite there being one last round of the regular season still to go.

Gold Coast Stars 1 – 0 Brisbane Strikers 

Their form of late left much to be desired, but Gold Coast Stars rallied on Sunday to claim a surprising 1-0 win over the second placed, and much more fancied, Brisbane Strikers on Sunday.

The win is a major setback for Brisbane who had a chance of reclaiming top spot had they won. Alas, their defeat now improves the hopes of teams below them on the ladder.

Gold Coast, who had been marred by injuries and suspensions, were trying to end their three game losing streak. The return of goal-scoring wonders Matt Hilton and John Prugh certainly helped their chances.

But it was a tight match. With neither team finding a way to beat their opponent’s defence a draw seemed the likely conclusion, when in the 93rd minute Gold Coast’s winner came from Nick Felizatto. 

The win seals the Stars' spot in the top six on the QSL ladder and into finals football, regardless of results next round.

Far North Queensland Bulls 4 – 2 North Queensland Razorbacks

With Gold Coast defeating Brisbane Strikers, the NQ Razorbacks have officially dropped out of finals contention after FNQ ran out 4-2 victors on Saturday.

FNQ proved far too strong for their rivals, with their pacey little strikers playing their part in dismantling the Razorbacks defence.

The Bulls were there to play from the first minute to the last. By halftime, a goal from Josiah Rusch, and a double from Cater had the orange men in front by 3 without conceding to the Razorbacks.

In the second half Jacob Crowley inspired a Razorback comeback with a timely and important goal in the 63rd minute. Bowater then followed in the 77th with a beautifully timed strike that gave Razorback fans a glimmer of hope.

But when Owens struck for the Bulls in the 84th minute it was all over for the Razorbacks.

In a far too familiar fashion it was the momentary lapses in defence that proved to be NQ’s downfall. Without midfielder Josh Evans pushing the Razorbacks into enemy territory, NQ just couldn’t respond to FNQ’s fine form as of late.

In third spot, the Bulls now sit in prime position to make a play for the 2011 QSL title.

Whitsunday Miners 2 – 0 Sunshine Coast Fire

The Whitsunday Miners were out for revenge against Sunshine Coast after their nail-biting 1-0 loss to the Fire last time they met. And the Miners got it, with an emphatic 2-0 victory over last year’s QSL Champions.

On the road the Miners are a competitive team, but at home in Harrup Park they have been a force to be reckoned with. With Whitsunday playing for a fifth straight win it would be no easy task for Sunshine Coast to beat them. 

A large, vocal crowd turned out on Saturday night to greet the home team who walked onto the pitch with game faces on fresh after a pre-match pep-talk from an unlikely motivational speaker – NRL legend Steve Jackson. 

The speech seemed to work too with the Miners staying strong in defence of the heady Sunshine Coast attack led by Jason Hicks. Maintaining possession the Miners were in control for most of the match. Welcoming back key playmakers Jamie White and Clarke Bradford (both of whom had been out on suspension) would be the key factor for Whitsunday in countering the Fire’s dangerman, Tyson Holmes. 

After the half neither team had scored in the nervous tussle. But going into the second term, Miners coach Graham Harvey and perhaps another inspirational speech from Steve Jackson, lifted the home side.

The breakthrough came in the 70th minute with Troy Mundy squeezing the ball into the Fire’s net with a well-timed header. Just before the end of regular time, in similar fashion, Brett Neeve topped off the win with a goal of his own, to extend the lead to 2-0 where the score remained.

By defeating the ladder leaders, the Miners now move to 4th spot on the QSL table and will certainly go into the final week of the regular season with a spring in their step. 

Bundaberg Spirit 3 – 3 Capricorn Cougars

It might not have been a top of the table clash, but Bundaberg and Capricorn certainly put on a show for the crowd on Saturday, as they toughed out a 3-3 draw.

Both teams were playing for nothing more than pride, fighting to avoid the wooden spoon at the bottom of the ladder. With off-field troubles plaguing the Bundaberg club, and without a full fit side Capricorn easily commanded the game from the start.

Millar scored for the Cougars in the 23rd minute, but Youngberry got one back for Bundaberg just before half time t make it 1-1.

Capricorn then fired in two more goals by the 76th minute to take a 3-1 lead with just over fifteen minutes of regular time remaining.

Bundaberg may have had a lot go against them this season, but like their name suggests, they have one thing – spirit.

Miles got one more back for Bundaberg in the 79th minute, and when Stephenson’s booming shot off a corner was touched by a Capricorn defender in the box, the penalty was awarded and Bundaberg had the opportunity to scrape a draw.

Laurie Stephenson took the penalty and sent the ball safely in the back of the Cougars’ goal, much to the delight of the home crowd. 


QSL LADDER

#	Club Name	G	W	D	L	F	A	GD	P
1	Sunshine Coast FC	14	9	3	2	44	11	33	30
2	Brisbane Strikers FC	14	9	1	4	41	16	25	28
3	FNQ Bulls	15	8	3	4	40	23	17	27
4	Whitsunday Miners	14	7	4	3	26	19	7	25
5	QLD Academy of Sport	15	6	5	4	34	26	8	23
6	Gold Coast Stars	14	7	2	5	25	22	3	23
7	NQ McDonald's Razorbacks	15	4	5	6	35	31	4	17
8	Bundaberg Spirit	14	1	1	12	12	54	-42	4
9	Capricorn Cougars	15	0	4	11	13	68	-55	4