Brisbane Premier League: Round 13

At the midway point of the BPL season, Rochedale increased their advantage on top, while chasers Wolves and Redlands were held to frustrating draws as they both conceded late on. Lions FC broke into the top-six as they continued their impressive run of form, while Capalaba and North Star enjoyed home wins. And finally North Pine recorded their first victory of the season and one they will hope is not the last if they are to avoid relegation. 


North Pine 3:2 Brisbane City 
(Keune ’19; McIntyre ’41; Roulston; 47) (Chester ’44; Murray ;80)

North Pine dug themselves out of bottom place in the league by recording their first win of the season in impressive fashion against City.

The Gorillas, winless and clear relegation favourites prior to kick-off, didn’t look like a side that had only netted on 13 occasions early on. Jason Keune opened the scoring within 20 minutes, before James McIntyre doubled the host’s advantage to the despair of the stunned Azzuri. Steven Chester’s strike before half time brought City back into the game, but it was Pine’s day. Christopher Roulston restored their two goal advantage straight from the restart and a late Antonio Murray penalty could not dampen the scenes of jubilation at Bob Brock Park.

The win sees the Gorillas overtake Souths into 13th – a priceless boost at a period of the season when such a result can be the catalyst for a turnaround in form. City will be ruing a missed opportunity to stay in touch with the top three.


Penisnula Power 1:1 Wolves FC
(Roulston ’87) (Radulovic ’36)

A late Anthony Roulston goal salvaged a point for Peninsula in a dogged affair with Wolves FC.

With several players from both sides entering the game with slight knocks, the match did not live up to expectations. Sasa Radulovic opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half after a neat lead-up by Kado Aoci and Trent Clulow. The scrappy contest continued in the second half and Sam Saif’s men looked to have earned themselves a valuable win. But Wolves shotstopper Marco Radovanovic failed to hold onto a long-range strike with time running out and Roulston made the most of his mistake from close range.

Power will be relieved to have snatched a late point as defeat would have seen them lose touch with the top two. Wolves remain Rochedale’s closest chasers at the top.


North Star 3:1 Taringa Rovers
(Lacey ’32; Corrigan ’62; Hastings ’63) (Hansen ’23)

A frantic second-half minute has provided North Star with a much needed victory over Taringa in a mid-season relegation scrap.

It was the visitors who started livelier and their early possession paid off when Schon Hansen struck a low drive to open to scoring. But the hosts responded well and leveled proceedings through a fierce Brad Lacey shot just after the half hour. Taringa once again looked the more comfortable at the start of the second period, but a telling substitution by Star’s Brian Hastings would prove decisive. Wayne Corrigan came on and within minutes put his name on the scoresheet after an opportunistic close-range strike. From the restart, Rovers conceded possession and were punished by Mikhail Hastings. The visitors could not recover and Star maintained control for the remainder of the match.

The valuable three points sees North Star trail Taringa by a single point - part of what seems to be forming as a four-way relegation battle.


Eastern Suburbs 3:3 Redlands United 
(Ukuno ’68, ’71; Lewandowski ’82) (Sao Jose ’30; Fyfe ’33; Meredith ’52)

Easts produced an inspired comeback on their home turf, recovering from three goals down to deny Redlands second spot on the table.

The visitors seemed in the mood once again, executing their fluent football to the envy of the home crowd. The ever-reliable Igor Sao Jose and Graham Fyfe bagged a goal each as the Devils took a comfortable two-goal lead at half-time. The match seemed all but over when Rhys Meredith extended that advantage shortly after the restart, but the Tigers had other ideas. Two quick strikes from Apai Ukuno brought the home side back into the game and put all the pressure back on Redlands. They could not cope, as Brendan Lewandowski completed the comeback with eight minutes left on the clock.

Easts coach Alan Hunter will be relived his side were able to claw their way back, as the point is more painful for Redlands – who missed the opportunity to overtake Wolves.


University of Queensland 0:2 Lions FC
(Ishikawa ’33; Thomas ’43)

Lions FC have taken another step in their resurgence up the table, this time downing UQ on their travels.

The Richlands club have enjoyed a sweet run of form – undefeated in their last seven games after a horrific four straight losses at the start of the season. They looked the more confident throughout this encounter and made it show on the scoreboard. Silky work by Kentaro Ishikawa led to the opener shortly after the half-hour mark. Greg Thomas doubled their lead with another deadly strike, this time from the penalty spot, minutes before half-time. It was a deficit Uni could not recover from in a game in which they always looked the less comfortable.

The latest installment in a streak of results for Graham Ross’ men sees them enter the top six, while UQ drop to 10th, although still comfortably away from the bottom four.


Capalaba 3:2 Souths United 
(Sherwood ’13; Schiavo ’16; Warden ’79) (OG ’37; Yamaguchi ’69)

Capalaba backed up their impressive win at Taringa with another blockbuster – overcoming Souths United at John Fredericks Park.

The Bulldogs made all the running in the opening period of the first half, with a Josh Sherwood penalty and Antony Schiavo strike forecasting a comfortable afternoon for the hosts. It was far from that and Souths were soon back in the game, although through fortuitous circumstances and an own goal. The visitors kept pressing for an equaliser and got their just reward through Kei Yamaguchi with 20 minutes to play. But Greg Warden would have the last laugh with ten minutes remaining, as he made the most of his chance to the delight of the home fans.

Capalaba remain comfortable in mid-table, while North Pine’s surprise win on Friday night means Souths United are the league’s new cellar dwellers.


Olympic FC 2:6 Rochedale Rovers 
(Butters ‘7; OG ’36) (Hastings ’11, ’55, ’73, ’76, Smits ’16; Lovell ‘42)

The league leaders made light work of a disjointed Olympic defence, as Rhys Hastings bagged four-goals in a 6-2 thrashing at Goodwin Park.

Olympic’s goalscoring talisman Michael Butters notched his 12th in ten games early on, but after that it was all Rochedale. Hastings opened his account for the afternoon barely four minutes later and soon Tim Smits made it 2-1. Olympic were given a lifeline through an own goal, but even they were flattered by the 2-2 scoreline at that stage. Rovers didn't let that affect them and retook the lead through Cody Lovell minutes before the interval. The second half was all about one man – Rhys Hastings - beating James Eccles a further three times to blow out the scoreline.

Rochedale charge ahead with a seven-point lead over closest challengers Wolves, while the heavy defeat sees Olympic drop out of the six on goal difference.