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Brisbane Strikers 1 – 0 NQ Razorbacks
(King 10’)
Brisbane Strikers returned to the top of the ladder for almost 24 hours over the weekend after a single goal victory over North Queensland at Perry Park.
Greg King’s early strike, a rebound from Keiran Gonzales’ initial save, was enough to keep pressure on the Sunshine Coast and Whitsunday in the race for title favouritism, and consign the 8th placed Razorbacks to a third straight defeat.
King’s goal, his third of the season, was a rare highlight in a match where the visitors’ resolute defending, coupled with the absence of favourite son and top scorer Matt Thurtell, restricted the usually free-scoring Brisbane to a single goal.
A Strikers clean sheet was enough to ultimately see the result secured in their favour.
The former NSL champions’ stay at the summit lasted only until the Fire were in action on Sunday but, with a game in hand, will hope their bye doesn’t allow their rivals to break clear, while North Queensland haven’t managed a point in their three games since an opening round draw.
FNQ Bulls 2 – 2 Capricorn Cougars
(Rusch 60’ Carroll 62’) (Waterland 32’, 67’)
A frantic seven-minute, second-half period including two goals in two minutes for the home side resulted in a four-goal stalemate between Far North Queensland and Capricorn in Cairns.
Goals to Joe Rusch and Jamie Carroll, sandwiched between Sander Waterland’s twin strikes, saw the Bulls recover from a goal down to lead the match in the space of two minutes, before Dutch import Waterland restored parity just five minutes later.
The Cougars front-man had earlier handed the away side a crucial lead in a match which could have given either side breathing room in their in their tussle for fourth spot, but the draw means the Bulls remain only a point ahead in the fight for a home Qualifying Final position.
Far North Queensland will hope to maintain that lead next weekend when they travel to Bundaberg to meet the 7th placed Spirit, while Capricorn will need to be at their best when they meet Sunshine Coast away at Stockland Park.
QAS 2 – 1 Bundaberg Spirit
(Yeboah 44’ Liftin 70’) (Causer 29’)
The Queensland Academy of Sport recovered from a goal down at home on Sunday to beat Bundaberg Spirit and add further momentum to their revival.
Academy midfielder Ben Liftin struck in the 70th minute to hand the home side their second consecutive victory and a move into sixth place, following four straight losses to open the season.
Spirit striker Elliot Causer had given the visitors the lead in the 29th minute with his third goal in two matches but a QAS free-kick seconds prior to half-time was cleverly dispatched by attacking spark Kwame Yeboah to see the sides level at the break.
Three forced substitutions in the second-half robbed Bundaberg of any tactical flexibility and the QAS seized the advantage through Liftin’s calm finish. Marshalled by holding midfielder Ross Archibald, the youngsters played out the remaining moments with poise in possession to overcome testing heat. ‘Keeper Matthew Stein was required to deny defender Adam Ormsby, one of three Central Coast Mariners youths recruited by Spirit, from a late free-kick to protect their three points.
The QAS’ season-high confidence will be tested next round with a long trip north to Townsville where they meet the Razorbacks, as Bundaberg will look to get back into the mid-table mix at home to the fourth-placed Bulls.
Sunshine Coast FC 3 – 1 Gold Coast Stars
(Barlow 4’ Blackman 50’ Henslee 53’) (Nechifor 50’)
Two home goals shortly after half-time put any possible upset beyond doubt in the battle of the coast clubs on Sunday afternoon.
They may be somewhat similar in name, but Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast couldn’t be further apart on the QSL table when they clashed at Fire’s Stockland Park in a first versus last fixture.
Knowing a win was necessary to stay a point ahead of their great rivals, Brisbane Strikers, who hold a game in hand, the home team began in expected fashion, scoring the first through Alex Barlow in just the 4th minute. After good wing play down the right-flank, the ball was centred to striker Shaun Blackman, who slammed his shot from the penalty spot straight at the Gold Coast ‘keeper. Unable to hold the powerful effort, the ball spilled for Barlow to charge in and sidefoot the opener.
Fire then had to wait until five minutes after the break for Blackman to double the advantage, turning on the edge of the Gold Coast area and sending a left-footed drive sizzling into the far corner. The Stars, however, responded instantly when Romanian-born youngster Filip Nechifor stunned the locals by bending his corner into the Fire goal. But, any hopes of a revival were ended when a goalmouth scramble resulted in a goal attributed to defender Greg Henslee, restoring Fire’s untouched two goal buffer.
With that win, Sunshine Coast moved back above both Whitsunday and the Strikers to lead the league by a point from the Brisbane club, who still hold a game in hand but could fall behind with next week’s bye. Gold Coast, meanwhile, will take heart from the improved scoreline into their next fixture, where they host the Miners.
Whitsunday Miners – BYE