QSL: Top-four remains undecided

Far North Queensland did enough to claim pole position for a home qualifying final in the QSL's penultimate round, although Sunshine Coast and Whitsunday both remain outside chances after also recording victories.

Originally scheduled as the final weekend of fixtures, cancellations throughout the season meant round twenty-seven was the QSL’s second-to-last.

Bundaberg Spirit 0 – 1 FNQ Bulls
(Hurney 30’)

A narrow 1-0 win away to Bundaberg was enough for Far North Queensland to retain second place by two points.

Should they overcome – or potentially even hold – sixth-placed Capricorn at home this Saturday, the Bulls will be assured of hosting a grand final qualifier – up from a finish in fourth in 2011.

They first had to see off Spirit at ATW Sportsground to keep their suitors at bay, and did so through midfielder Glenn Hurney’s 30th minute floater, while a clean sheet offset their inability to put the result beyond doubt.

While their season has been much improved on the last-place finish of 2011, Bundaberg are now winless in five matches, while the Bulls must claim three points next weekend should Sunshine Coast also triumph.

Capricorn Cougars 0 – 5 Sunshine Coast Fire
(Holmes 15’, 29’ Blackman 65’ Barlow 74’, 90+3’)

Backing up from a staggering 18-0 trouncing of Gold Coast last weekend, Sunshine Coast again waltzed to victory in putting five past Capricorn at Jardine Park.

Roughly simultaneous matches across Saturday night meant Fire weren’t privy to the results of finals rivals FNQ and Whitsunday, keeping them anxious to leave Rockhampton with a three points that would keep them in the hunt for a home final.

Wins for their fellow challengers necessitated victory and the 2011 champions duly complied, easily disposing of the sixth-placed Cougars. It wasn’t quite the record-breaking affair of their last outing but a first-half double from captain Tyson Holmes and three in the second courtesy of Shaun Blackman and Alex Barlow helped Sunshine Coast to another emphatic five-goal rout. Fire have been in glowing form heading into finals, notching five straight wins with thirty-nine goals and four consecutive clean sheets in that period.

The Kawana-based club need to win and hope FNQ draw or lose next weekend if they are to steal second, although they can also fall to fourth as Whitsunday trail by a single point.

Whitsunday Miners 5 – 0 Gold Coast
(Hooper 58’, 67’ pen 71’, Corte 59’ Zappone 84’)

Gold Coast could do little to reverse the humiliation of their last start as Whitsunday eased to a straightforward victory at Magpies Sports Club.

That Saturday’s 5-0 loss was a thirteen-goal better performance than their most recent fixture explains everything you need to know about the Stars’ meeting with Sunshine Coast last weekend, and they were still some way off the pace in Mackay as the Miners kept the pressure on their top-four leaders.

Centre-back Corey Hooper, who has been with the club since its inception, took greatest advantage of his dispirited opponents with a remarkable second-half hattrick, the third of which was converted from the penalty spot. Local products Jordan Corte and Matthew Zappone chimed in with a goal each to complete the scoring on a result which keeps the side only a point from third-place Sunshine Coast heading into the final round, although an inferior goal difference means victory is required of Whitsunday. The Stars can take some solace from holding their dangerous opposition goalless for the opening half, although the club’s time in the QSL looks to be coming to a muted conclusion.

The win marks a three-match unbeaten run for the Miners in a spell that has yielded fourteen goals scored and zero conceded, illustrating an eye-catching run of form which has branded them a finals threat after winning just one from four between rounds twenty and twenty-three.

NQ Razorbacks 2 – 2 QAS
(Puet 69’ Edwards 76’) (Theodore 75’ Bladen 85’)

Queensland Academy of Sport captain Jack Bladen struck late to earn his team a point in a seesawing clash with North Queensland in Townsville.

Midfielder Bladen scored in the 85th minute to deny what appeared to be a Razorbacks winner through striker Robin Edwards as the hosts, featuring four debutants, matched their equally youthful counterparts.

North Queensland had earlier had a lead cancelled out by Academy winger Patrick Theodore, before both sides again scored to each earn a point in a match that, while a dead rubber, shared mutual positives.

The match wraps up a full season of fixtures for the Razorbacks and as such they are unlikely to be in action next weekend. The QAS, meanwhile, seem to have a fixed finishing position in fifth.

Brisbane Strikers – BYE