Brisbane Premier League: Round Six

Brisbane Premier League fans were treated to another weekend of closely-fought encounters and high-scoring action. The pick of the results from Round Six was Rochedale’s away victory at Wolves, while Peninsula Power kept the pressure at the top with a win over North Star. UQ and Lions FC kept their free-scoring form with victories as did Capalaba who recorded their first win of the season on the road to North Pine. Brisbane City and Taringa produced the only stalemate of the round. 

Wolves FC 0:2 Rochedale Rovers 

(Way ’37; Lovell ‘84) 

In arguably the match of the round, Rochedale Rovers travelled to their nemesis from last year Wolves FC. The stakes were high from the offset, as a win for either side would have elevated them to top of the table. 

As it proved, clinical finishing by the Rovers was the difference on the day. A strike on either side of the break, first by Reuben Way and then by Cody Lovell, handed Rochedale all three points. Way’s goal came after persistent Rochedale pressure, when a lovely centre by Lovell was chested down by Terry Hughes for Way, who fired home a stupendous volley past Marko Radovanovic. Moments prior to Lovell’s game-sealer, Christopher Knowles struck the crossbar from the penalty spot, a missed chance Wolves would be made to rue. 

With fellow challengers Olympic FC not in action this weekend, Rochedale can enjoy top spot – at least for one week. The result was Wolves’ first loss of the season and Sam Saif’s men will be looking to bounce back on the road to Taringa next week. Rochedale will look to consolidate their position when they welcome Redlands next Saturday night. 

Peninsula Power 3:2 North Star 

(Hurlin ’37; Taylor ’60; Moon ’82) (Mcevoy’33; Lacey ’80) 

Peninsula Power edged out a brave North Star in a five-goal thriller at A J Kelly Field. A late Warren Moon goal broke the visitors’ hearts, who moments before had levelled the score.

The visitors struck first through Michael Mcevoy on 33 minutes, however Power responded immediately with Richard Hurlin’s effort. As the sides came out of the break all square, it was Power who took ascendancy when Josh Taylor converted on the hour mark. In a frantic last ten-minutes, Power again responded immediately after conceding - this time Moon’s goal proving the winner. 

The win sees Power occupy third place before a tough trip to Olympic next week, while North Star remain winless and rooted to the bottom of the table. 

Brisbane City 1:1 Taringa Rovers

(Chester ‘62) (Rados ’14) 

Pre-game favourites Brisbane City were forced to share the spoils with a lively Taringa side, who came close to recording their first win of the season. 

A first half in which most chances fell to the Rovers was sparked to life when Alex Rados finished off a well worked corner on 14 minutes. The home side were disappointing in the opening period, however came firing out of the blocks after the break. Steven Chester coolly converted a deserved equaliser just after the hour mark. Taringa looked the likelier to score as the clock was winding down, but wasteful execution in the final third and solid goalkeeping by Aurelion Berson saw both sides claim a point from the encounter. 

City remain 5th on the table and will be looking for a much improved performance when they travel to Souths next week. Taringa need to start converting their chances if they are to rise off the foot of the table and get a result when they host Wolves next Saturday. 

North Pine 1:3 Capalaba

(Coffey ‘59) (Marshall ’10; Owen ’26; Sargent ’80) 

Capalaba recorded their first victory of the season, overcoming a North Pine side who remain winless and reeling at the foot of the table. Two first half goals set up the three points for the Bulldogs, who rounded the game off with a late third goal after North Pine had pulled one back.

Grant Marshall and Sam Owen put Capalaba comfortably ahead at half-time, before Shane Coffey’s strike on the hour mark breathed a lifeline for the home side. But Scott Sargent was on hand to secure the points with ten minutes to go, handing Brian Hastings’ side a confidence boost ahead of their clash with Lions FC. North Pine will see next week as a vital chance to record their maiden win of the season, when they travel to fellow strugglers North Star.

Redlands United 3:4 University of Queensland 

(Meredith ‘9; Fyfe ’45; Lee ’90) (David ’17, ’69; Posada ’68;  Doyle ’81)

UQ continued where they left off last week, impressive in attack but worrying defensively as they took all three points from Redlands United. Twice coming back from be  hind, UQ secured the win with their 10th goal in two games, although they soon conceded their 12th in three games. 

Redlands took ascendancy in the first half, twice leading through goals from Rhys Meredith and Graham Fyfe – either side of Loic David’s equaliser. But UQ showed great spirit once again and turned the game on its head with two goals in two second-half minutes – first to Nicolas Posada before David grabbed his second. Patrick Doyle looked to have put the game to bed after adding a fourth with ten minutes remaining, but a stoppage time strike from Michael Lee made the visitors sweat before the final whistle. 

UQ will have their work cut out to keep their free-scoring form going against a traditionally compact Easts side next week, while Redlands are rapidly losing touch of the top places and require a much-needed result at Rochedale. 

Lions FC 6:0 Souths United

(Butler ‘1; Osman ’17; Thomas ’55, ‘57; Carlos ’71; Musson ’85) 

Lions FC set their season rolling with a first victory - comfortably dismantling an out-of-depth Souths United side. A dominant performance either side of the break demonstrated the qualities that earned the Lions promotion last year. 

The home side got off to the perfect start, Andrew Butler’s first-minute strike settling any nerves. Matthew Osman added a second within 20 minutes, as a quick-fire double from Greg Thomas early in the second-half put the result beyond doubt. Further goals from Shaun Carlos and Gareth Musson rounded off a humiliating night for Souths.

With their first three points on the board, the Lions will undoubtedly be looking to maintain momentum when they travel to Capalaba next week, while Souths must re-organise a defence that has conceded 20 goals in five games – if they are to grab anything from a home encounter against City.