.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
FNQ Bulls 1 – 1 Sunshine Coast Fire
(Morrison 44’) (Blackman 9’)
Far North Queensland continued their encouraging results on Saturday night with a handy point at home to the reigning champions, Sunshine Coast Fire.
Shaun Blackman’s early opener, the Fire frontman’s fourth in four matches, was cancelled out just before the break by FNQ left-fullback Cameron Morrison. A goalless second half ensured both sides would have to be content with a point from the top-half fixture.
The Bulls were returning home to Borzi Park following an emphatic 6-2 away victory over the QAS the following weekend and were hoping to cement a spot in the top four, while Fire entered the clash sitting second behind the Strikers on goal difference.
The draw means Far North Queensland have established a one point gap from fifth-placed Capricorn, but could only cut Brisbane’s break to four points. Sunshine Coast, meanwhile, stole a point clear on the inactive Strikers and will be keen to capitalise on Whitsunday’s bye next weekend.
NQ Razorbacks 1 – 2 Whitsunday Miners
(Galliozzi 4’) (van Moolenbroek 33’ Bradford 67’)
Whitsunday Miners have strengthened their title credentials with an important 2-1 win over North Queensland at the Townsville Sports Reserve.
The Miners headed north to Townsville knowing three points were required to keep pace with the two frontrunners and would have been confident of a result against a Razorbacks outfit which hadn’t seen action since March 31st.
It was the home side who took the lead, however, through central midfielder Anthony Galliozzi in the 4th minute. Despite the early goal giving North Queensland hope of a result in just their third match of the season, Whitsunday talisman Michael van Moolenbroek found an equaliser just beyond the half-hour mark. They were forced to wait until the 67th minute for a second but English import Clark Bradford eventually sealed the win for the Miners, sending them top of the league.
Whitsunday will now eagerly anticipate Sunshine Coast and Brisbane’s results next round as they contend with the bye, holding just a single point lead over Fire and two over the Strikers, who entertain the now-eighth Razorbacks at Perry Park.
Capricorn Cougars 2 – 6 QAS
(Ruthven 30’ Waterland 57’) (Yeboah 5’, 73’ Riis 17’ Borrello 39’ 67’ Lambi 90+1’)
The Queensland Academy of Sport produced a stunning reverse of the scoreline they had suffered just a week earlier with an incredible 6-2 away win over Capricorn Cougars on Saturday night.
The QAS squad surely expected little from their trip to Rockhampton after last weekend’s drubbing at the hands of Far North Queensland kept them equal bottom, while the Cougars were looking to recover from their own misery in Brisbane.
It was surprising, then, that the young visitors raced to a 2-0 lead in the 17th minute as left-winger Josh Riis pounced on a rebound, adding to Kwame Yeboah’s opener just five minutes into the match. Troy Ruthven pulled one back from the penalty spot for the home side but the QAS’ two goal lead was restored six minutes from the break through Brisbane Roar youth-team striker Brandon Borrello. Sander Waterland again gave hope to Capricorn shortly after the restart before Borrello, Yeboah and Jordan Lambi piled on the goals for the QAS to break away and record a thumping victory.
The much needed three points were the Academy’s first of the season, seeing them leapfrog North Queensland into seventh and potentially back amongst the mid-table fight. The Cougars, meanwhile, stay in fifth as Bundaberg’s postponement means their three point lead remains intact.
Gold Coast Stars – BYE
Bundaberg Spirit vs. Brisbane Strikers – POSTPONED