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Bundaberg Spirit 1 – 0 NQ Razorbacks
(Davis 3’)
Bundaberg made it two wins from two on Saturday as Brendan Davis’ early goal was enough for them to leapfrog North Queensland into seventh.
Spirit striker Davis struck in just the third minute of the match – his fifth of the season – which proved enough for the home side to continue their turnaround from a five-game winless streak, ended last week at home to Sunshine Coast.
The final margin was an exact replica of the two sides’ last meeting in round twelve, when Bundaberg completed the first of their double over the Razorbacks in Townsville.
North Queensland had led Spirit by two points prior to Saturday’s fixture but have now fallen a point behind, albeit with a game in hand to be caught up on next weekend.
FNQ Bulls 4 – 2 Gold Coast
(Bird 24’ Rusch 78’ Hurney 86’ Allen 88’) (Gecic 19’ Bina 28’)
Far North Queensland produced a great escape to bring Gold Coast back down to earth on Saturday, firing three goals in a frantic final twelve minutes.
The Stars notched their first win of the season last weekend and, after taking the lead twice inside the first half hour, looked on course for a huge upset in Cairns.
However, the Bulls fought back to hit three goals in ten minutes and deny Gold Coast a previously-thought impossible shot at back-to-back victories. The visitors’ pair of Daniels, Gecic and Bina, had firstly opened the scoring, and then restored the shock lead following Nathan Bird’s equaliser. It was left for veteran Bull Joe Rusch to restore parity twelve minutes from time, before Glenn Hurney and Dennis Allen sealed the win in attacking weapon Jamie Carroll’s absence.
The late show was crucial for the Bulls’ challenge for second, a position within reach if they win their game in hand. Despite twice leading the match and coming away without a point, Gold Coast’s competitiveness and subsequent results appear permanently repaired.
Sunshine Coast 2 – 4 Brisbane Strikers
(Cronk 8’ Lucas 52’) (Hews 33’ Henderson 59’ Robinson 85’ Thurtell 90+5’)
Not even the visit of their greatest rivals could coax Sunshine Coast out of their form funk as the Strikers condemned Fire to a fourth loss in five matches at Stockland Park on Sunday.
Despite twice taking the lead in the match, the return of star captain Tyson Holmes and New Zealand Olympics representative Dakota Lucas wasn’t enough to inspire the reigning champions to overcome the QSL’s runaway leaders.
However, victory didn’t always seem within sight for the unstoppable Strikers force, which stuttered until defender Nick Robinson’s late goal finally put them in front. Matt Thurtell added his obligatory goal for the match deep into added time to seal another three points, but not before rising star Brady Cronk and Lucas had both put Sunshine Coast ahead. Former Fire defender Alex Henderson, who made the switch to Brisbane in the off-season, made sure he wasn’t forgotten at Stockland Park by heading the crucial second equaliser on the hour.
Sunshine Coast have now slid to fourth on the table, but will take a hope of a form reversal from the clash, even if Brisbane’s fifteen-point lead in first presents a great mental obstacle leading into finals.
QAS 0 – 1 Whitsunday Miners
(Hatch 61’)
Whitsunday confirmed their status as Brisbane’s nearest title rivals on Sunday, edging out the Queensland Academy of Sport thanks to Jamie Hatch’s 61st minute bullet.
A match played in perfect football weather at the QAS’ home of Meakin Park failed to produce many clear-cut chances, but was lit up by Hatch’s long-range fizzer.
The relatively even contest was just shaded by the visitors throughout as their defence barely gave the formerly incisive Academy attack a clear sight on goal.
The win was yet another crucial step in Whitsunday’s path towards securing second place, restoring their two-point break on the third-placed Bulls. The QAS, despite having two games in hand on Sunshine Coast in fourth, are surely out of finals reckoning as they trail the top four by twelve points.
Capricorn Cougars – BYE