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NQ Razorbacks 1 – 1 FNQ Bulls
(Galliozzi 28’) (Carroll 77’)
A goal in the final quarter of an hour from joint MVP tally leader Jamie Carroll was enough to rescue a point for Far North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday afternoon.
Midfielder Carroll’s 77th minute strike, his fifth this term, denied the Razorbacks their first win of the season and a welcome boost in front of their own fans.
The hosts had earlier been given hope of claiming an upset, and a maiden three points in 2012, over the fourth-placed Bulls when inaugural squad member Anthony Galliozzi netted in the 28th minute.
However, Carroll’s goal means the Razorbacks will have to wait at least a week longer for a taste of joy, while the Bulls’ five game unbeaten run sees them steady in fifth ahead of the bye.
Brisbane Strikers 7 – 0 Gold Coast Stars
(Henderson 12’ Di Sipio 41’ Thurtell 58’, 71’ Mottin 74’ Maher 75’ Angus 77’)
Having hit nine goals past the Stars in round one, Brisbane Strikers again heaped misery on Gold Coast on Saturday night with a 7-0 whitewash.
Six separate goalscorers, a Matt Thurtell brace and four goals in six second-half minutes spoiled the Perry Park faithful and put the Strikers in prime position to reclaim top spot over the coming rounds.
Despite the ultimately heavy battering, Gold Coast illustrated some improvement from the opening round fixture as they held out until Matt Thurtell’s 58th minute finish, the home side’s third of the evening, for any turnaround, however unlikely, to be effectively ruled out. The hapless Stars, who are desperately seeking player staff, were forced to field a number of youngsters in the match. The first-half implosion of Daniel Bina, one who was required to back up from the earlier Youth League fixture, earned the attacker a red card and added to the Stars' personnel woes, eliminating their chances of a result in the process.
The final scoreline keeps Gold Coast rooted to the bottom of the ladder without a point and a -33 goal difference, in stark contrast to Brisbane’s place in second, two points from Sunshine Coast with two games in hand.
Bundaberg Spirit 3 – 2 Capricorn Cougars
(Griffin 4’ Youngberry 19’, 25’) (Waterland 66’ Cay 87’)
Three goals in the first 25 minutes were enough to secure Bundaberg’s second win of the season, albeit with a hairy final few minutes after Capricorn struck twice in the second half.
Michael Cay’s late goal gave slim hope to the visitors in the dying moments, but Spirit were able to hold on and record a second three points following tough losses to the QAS and FNQ.
Brendan Griffin’s early opener was twice added to by Shane Youngberry in, first, the 19th minute, and then six minutes later in the 25th, setting Spirit on the path to victory. Goals to star Cougars striker Sander Waterland, his ninth of the campaign, and Cay proved only to be consolations as Capricorn’s break in sixth was cut to a single point by their hosts.
Spirit will need to replicate their form of the first 25 minutes when they travel to the Sunshine Coast next week in the hope of reeling in the Cougars, who meet North Queensland in Townsville.
Whitsunday Miners 2 – 2 Sunshine Coast Fire
(Puckett 33’ van Moolenbroek 69’) (Bechar 17’ Aherne-Evans 82’)
Sunday's match-of-the-round served up an entertaining 2-2 draw between Whitsunday and Sunshine Coast, two sides with a developing history who both harbour 2012 title dreams.
The two clubs contested last year’s Preliminary Final where Fire, the eventual champions, prevailed, and they entered this clash at Virgin Australia Stadium separated by just two points.
The Miners were looking to climb to the head of the table with victory but were a dealt an early blow when Frenchman Nicolas Bechar curled the opener for the visitors inside 20 minutes. The home outfit hit back, however, as Bill Puckett squared the ledger 12 minutes from the interval after a goalmouth scramble. Then, in the 69th minute, Miners hitman Michael van Moolenbroek put Whitsunday ahead and in sight of a crucial home win.
But, just as Sunshine Coast coach Richard Hudson would have begun to glance nervously at his watch, former Wales youth international Kevin Aherne-Evans restored parity to preserve Fire’s status as league leaders.
With Brisbane’s return to action culminating in an easy victory, Sunshine Coast are now two points ahead of both the Strikers - who hold two games in hand - and Whitsunday, who meet in another Mackay blockbuster next weekend.
Queensland Academy of Sport – BYE