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Brisbane Strikers 5 – 1 Gold Coast
(Thurtell 29’, 30’, 90+2’ Angus 66’ Sipi 83’) (Sheriff 49’)
Matt Thurtell’s twenty-sixth, seventh and eighth goals in as few as fifteen matches this season confirmed the Brisbane Strikers’ status as premiers-elect, opening a twelve-point gap at the top.
Travelling to Perry Park in full awareness of Brisbane’s free-scoring attack, Stars coach Simon Tanti would have been content to see his side trail by two at the break. And, when Bangaly Sheriff pulled one back shortly after the restart, the mid-season appointment would have been delighted with the obvious improvement in his troops’ performance. Indeed, it took until after the hour for the Strikers to restore their two-goal lead before later applying a more expected look to the scoreline.
It was Thurtell who had earlier freed the hosts from a tight opening half hour, firstly volleying in Lorenzo Sipi’s cross before chipping ‘keeper Luigi Cordova for a two-minute brace. League MVP contender Michael Angus was the man to restore Brisbane’s comfort zone following Sheriff’s 49th minute header, finishing off a smart move just beyond the hour. A well-taken Sipi goal, to add to his pair of assists on the night, was made even tougher for Gold Coast to swallow when Thurtell notched his hat-trick, and Brisbane’s fifth, in stoppage time.
The Stars will now see a return home against the QAS next weekend as a good opportunity to turn competitiveness into points, while the Strikers will be intent on stamping their dominance in a visit to newly-second Whitsunday.
FNQ Bulls 1 – 1 NQ Razorbacks
(Carroll 89’) (King 20’)
The return of 18-year-old defector Bronson Koppen failed to ignite Far North Queensland to victory at Borzi Park on Saturday with the home side saved only by Jamie Carroll’s last-gasp equaliser.
The Bulls, wearing a pink strip in support of women’s health, trailed the visitors for nearly seventy minutes after Alexander King’s opener twenty minutes into the North Queensland derby.
However, it was star striker Carroll who denied Koppen, a deadline-day transfer from the Bulls to the Razorbacks in search of more first-team opportunities, and his new teammates an upset win.
The disappointing result means a missed chance for Far North Queensland to go equal second and instead stay fourth, whereas the point keeps their rivals in touch with the top six.
Capricorn Cougars 3 – 2 Bundaberg Spirit
(Mozr 19’ Stross 37’ Waterland 47’) (Causer 13’ Leggett 55’)
Capricorn battled back from a goal down to see off Bundaberg and solidify their finals hopes in a tight home match on Sunday afternoon.
Stung by Elliott Causer’s surprise early opener, the Cougars fought back well to pile on three consecutive goals – enough to resign Luke Leggett’s 55th minute effort to a consolation.
Causer’s goal was initially cancelled out by impressive Czech import Rudi Mozr in the nineteenth minute before Tyler Stross and attacking sensation Sander Waterland secured the three points with goals either side of the break.
The win sees Capricorn move two points clear of North Queensland in the last finals spot, a position eight-placed Bundaberg are not without a hope of claiming as they sit six points off the pace but with a match in hand.
Sunshine Coast Fire 1 – 2 Whitsunday Miners
(Barlow 16’) (Bradford 41’ Hooper 58’)
Ten-man Whitsunday brokered a major shift in the title pecking order on Sunday afternoon, consigning Sunshine Coast to their third home loss in four matches and leapfrogging the reigning champions into second.
A 16th minute opener courtesy of livewire winger Alex Barlow was not enough for Fire to avoid defeat as Scottish-born defender Greig Henslee had a late penalty saved.
The Miners entered the match two points behind their hosts but held hope of a positive result in the face of Fire’s poor recent form at Stockland Park. Their task, however, was made all the more difficult as Michael Leslie was dismissed prior to half-time, only for goalscoring midfielder Clark Braford to flag the fightback by equalising just minutes later. The Miners then exacted revenge on the side that defeated them in the preliminary final of last season as they stole a winner through Corey Hooper midway through the second term.
While their defence has been the second tightest in the league, Sunshine Coast have yet to flesh out a consistent goalscorer this season and will need to do so throughout the final rounds if they are to defend their championship. Whitsunday, meanwhile, will look to ride their high into a mouth-watering home fixture against Brisbane next week.
Queensland Academy of Sport – BYE