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Whitsunday Miners 3 – 0 FNQ Bulls Cheered on by another record home crowd, the Whitsunday Miners ran out 3-0 winners against Far North Queensland Bulls on Saturday.
The Miners have been the surprise packet of the QSL this season and continued to stun as they demolished the in-form Bulls outfit.
In front of 2122 fans, the atmosphere in the newly built Mackay Stadium was second to none as locals turned out in their droves to support their football team.
FNQ had beaten QAS in a clinical 4-0 display last week but their normally zippy attack were completely shut down by the Miners on the night who held possession for most of the game.
Meanwhile Whitsunday’s offence was in over-drive. Their first goal came Jamie White with a well-timed volley in the 18th minute. His effort was backed up in the 35th by Clark Bradford who pounced on a cross from Jordan Corte. Deflated by the 2-0 deficit that lay before them FNQ just couldn’t find a way through, and when Bradford finished with his second in the 65th minute it was game over – the final ripping goal, a fine example of the skills within this young team.
The loss has eliminated FNQ from the finals race while the Miners proceed to the next stage, a date with last year’s champions Sunshine Coast Fire for a place in the grand final against Brisbane Strikers.
Brisbane Strikers 0 – 0 Sunshine Coast Fire
(Aggregate score 2-1)
Brisbane Strikers are locked in to play the 2011 grand final after drawing with Sunshine Coast in Kawana on Sunday.
(Aggregate score 2-1)
Brisbane Strikers are locked in to play the 2011 grand final after drawing with Sunshine Coast in Kawana on Sunday.
As usual it was a tense encounter between these two. They’ve forged a rivalry like no other in the QSL and it was again on show at Stockland Park.
Early chances went to Fire's Shaun Blackman with a handful of headers on goal just glancing the woodwork. Brisbane had their fair share of opportunities on the counter too but neither side could get the ball in the back of the net.
Deep into injury time Sunshine Coast then had a plum opportunity to secure a home grand final.
A penalty was awarded to the Fire in the 93rd minute and the ever-reliable wonder kid Tyson Holmes stepped up to the mark. His strike had the ‘keeper beat but rose late to hit the crossbar, and in a moment the final whistle was heard with the scores still tied.
A penalty was awarded to the Fire in the 93rd minute and the ever-reliable wonder kid Tyson Holmes stepped up to the mark. His strike had the ‘keeper beat but rose late to hit the crossbar, and in a moment the final whistle was heard with the scores still tied.
Winning a grand final place on aggregate score (2-1) Brisbane Strikers will now also host the grand final in a fortnight’s time. Their opponent will be decided this weekend when the Fire take on Whitsunday in a last ditch attempt to again be QSL champions.
QSL Preliminary Final
Sunshine Coast Fire vs Whitsunday Miners