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A lone Matt Biggins second half strike earned Taringa a much needed local derby win over UQ, who missed a penalty in stoppage time.
Everyone will be talking about:
Nick Tubbs’ goalkeeping heroics. After giving away a penalty in stoppage time, Tubbs stepped up not once but twice, first denying from Daniel Stewart-Mclean from twelve yards out and immediately recovering to save the follow-up out with his face.
Yeah, but what happened?
On a night when the Taringa balcony tirelessly sang club President Wayne Diaz’s name in support of his struggle with illness, it was UQ who shaded possession and chanced created. But they couldn’t convert, Matt Biggins’ 70m dash up-field earning him the match-winner and a crucial three points to lift Taringa from relegation danger.
The numbers
Taringa Rovers – Biggins ‘65
Looking ahead
The win goes a long way to lifting the pressure off the Jack Speare Park brigade with three games to go, while the pressure on Uni to break a torrid run of form next week at home to North Pine couldn’t be higher.
Peninsula Power 6:0 North Pine
Power thumped North Pine to stay in contention for the league title and put another nail in Pine’s coffin.
Everyone will be talking about
Power’s momentum heading into the finals. Unbeaten in over two months and boasting a goals ratio of 10-0 over the past fortnight, they have to be one of the favourites to go all the way and still a close shot for the league.
Yeah, but what happened?
Dominant throughout, Power opened their account before the whole crowd had taken their seats – Luke Gauci netting on two minutes. Half an hour later and it was two – Lewis Bonar scoring the only other goal of the half. Bonar netted the second of his brace before the hour mark, followed soon by strikes from Josh Ahern and Warren Moon. Xavier Lopez completed the rout late on with his third goal in two weeks.
The numbers
Power – Gauci ‘2, Bonar ’31, ’57; Ahern ’66; Moon ’74; Lopez ‘87
Looking ahead
Power are still a chance of clinching the league – their next two matchups with Lions and city will prove decisive if they’re going to have a shot at the title on the last matchday against Wolves. North Pine must dig hard but look destined for the drop.
North Star 1:2 Wolves FC
North Star 1:2 Wolves FC
Wolves escaped from North Star with all three points thanks to a Trent Clulow strike that keeps them top of the table.
Everyone will be talking about:
Wolves’ title credentials. After slipping up at home to Capalaba last week, Sam Saif’s men ground out a win that raised few eyebrows, but nevertheless three points is three points.
Yeah, but what happened?
The visitors went ahead with a slice of good luck on the half-hour, an unfortunate Star own goal handing them the lead. However, the teams went into the sheds all squared up after Royce Brownlie got in on the act moments before half-time. A combative second half was sealed by Trent Clulow’s strike with 15 minutes to play.
The numbers
Star – Royce Brownlie ‘44
Wolves – OG ’29; Clulow ‘74
Looking ahead
Wolves did their job as undoubtedly one eye was on their mid-week match against Rochedale. North Star are sweating – a home stretch against Redlands, Rochedale and Taringa will don that to any relegation-threatened side.
Eastern Suburbs 1:3 Lions FC
Lions FC traded places with Eastern suburbs with a dominant first half display to re-enter the top six and send the Tigers crashing out of it.
Everyone will be talking about:
Lions’ precise creativity. Up against a stern back four that has only conceded more goal than Wolves and Peninsula, Lions ripped apart their opposition with balls from the deep setting up all three goals.
Yeah, but what happened?
The result was all but sealed at half-time. Lions cut open the hosts’ defence three times, Brodie Kenyon, Andrew Butler and Brett Hay converting from Greg Thomas and Jake Schoefield’s deadly crosses. Easts improved kin the second half but Ryan Stenhouse’s goal almost immediately after the break was nothing but a consolation.
The numbers
Easts – Stenhouse ‘48
Lions – Kenyon ’28; Butler ’32; Hay ‘38
Looking ahead
Lions have one foot in the finals after this result, with a preferable run home against North Pine and UQ to follow next week’s crunch game with Power. Easts have it all to do, next week’s battle with direct rivals for a top six spot City a must-win before tough match-ups with Wolves and Redlands.
Souths United 0:5 Rochedale Rovers
Rovers put in a first half mauling of Souths to have the game sealed by the break and with it – a guaranteed spot in the finals.
Everyone will be talking about:
Rovers’ mid-week match-up with Wolves. A victory away to the bottom side of the competition was always going to be a formality and the travelling contingent cannot be blamed for having one-eye on the table-toppers.
Yeah, but what happened?
Rochedale made sure they had the result sewn up before the break – Tim Smits, Greg Cheshire, John Thompson and Carl Tabulo netting past a hapless and already relegated Souths. Rovers could afford to put one foot off the pedal in the second stanza – Thompson’s second goal of the game the only really highlight.
The numbers
Rochedale – Smits ‘6; Cheshire ’22; Thompson ’36, ’79; Tabulo ‘39
Looking ahead
Rochedale travel to Wolves in a crunch mid-week catch-up game, that will be pivotal to their chances of finishing in the top three, as well as pegging back Wolves’ lead at the top.
Capalaba 1:2 Redlands
Redlands held on for a narrow victory in their derby with Capalaba, surviving a second-half onslaught and keeping their league title dreams alive.
Everyone will be talking about
How Capalaba ended up empty-handed. Outplayed in the first half, the Dogs were superior in the second and should have bagged a hatful.
Yeah, but what happened?
The Devils made the most of their first half opportunities, taking the lead as early as the fifth minute through a rare but spectacular Michael Eagar drive. Thirty minutes later, teammates Geoff Hurford and Joel Drewek got in each other’s way to hand possession to Rhys Meredith. From then on it was all pace and precision as a 30m run ended with an unstoppable finish. Redlands forgot to return in the second half, but Josh Sherwood’s lone strike was not enough for a wasteful Capalaba.
The numbers
Capalaba – Josh Sherwood ‘54
Redlands – Eagar ‘5; Meredith ‘34
Looking ahead
Redlands look firm title challengers – they’ll be looking to knock off North Star before a final two-game showdown with Olympic and Easts. The loss is heavy for Capalaba – the Dogs now cannot afford to lose away to Rochedale next week if they are to have a shot of making the top six.
Olympic FC 4:2 Brisbane City
A Danny Byrne hat-trick inspired Olympic kept their finals dream a reality by downing Brisbane City in a Sunday afternoon thriller.
Everyone will be talking about:
Danny’s Byrne’s scoring prowess. The ever-reliable
Yeah, but what happened?
Byrne’s first-half strike was overshadowed by an Antonio Murray double either side of the break. After that it was all Olympic, the hosts showing great resilience to retake the lead via Byrne’s hat-trick – with Michael Butters also sneaking in a goal to the delight of the Goodwin Park faithful.
The numbers
Olympic – Byrne ’37, ’65, ’77; Butters ‘67
City – Murray ’38, ‘57
Looking ahead
Extraordinarily Olympic jump three spots and occupy sixth, while City must get at least three points from upcoming games against Easts and Power before they finish at home to North Pine.
