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The weekend was also notable for the match between 11th and 12th in Rockhampton as two teams fought for their second win of the season.
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| Credit: Football Queensland |
Olympic FC 5 (Byrne 13' 35' 45+1' 78' Tabulo 66')
Led by four goals from captain Danny Byrne, league-leaders Olympic wiped away a two-goal deficit to put away title rivals Redlands at Cleveland Showgrounds on Friday night.
Goals from key protagonists Graham Fyfe, Reuben Way and Jheison Macuace surged United to a 3-1 lead after just 25 minutes; from there, though, it was the Danny Byrne show, the attacking midfielder netting twice in ten minutes to complete a first-half hattrick before adding a fourth to wrap up for victory for his team.
Olympic winger Carl Tabulo also found his way onto the scoresheet, completing a turnaround for the visitors which safeguarded their unbeaten season.
The Devils, meanwhile, fell to fourth as their winless streak extended to three.
CQFC Energy 3 (Crowley 9' Geddes 48' Millar 80')
QAS 2 (Hoffman 19' Cronin 63')
It took 80 minutes to attain a match-winning lead on Saturday night but Central Queensland eventually defeated the Queensland Academy of Sport in Rockhampton for their second win of the season.
Ben Millar's separated the two bottom teams after the Academy had twice equalised, first through Roman Hoffman in the first-half and then midfielder Sam Cronin after the hour.
Braedyn Crowley and the prolific Chris Geddes had earlier given CQ leads, and finally they held on to three points with Millar's late intervention.
The result switched the two clubs' position in the bottom two, though they each have plenty to do to make an impression on those above them.
Brisbane Strikers 3 (Richter 59' Taylor 83' McVey 90+3')
Sunshine Coast FC 0
Brisbane Strikers got their season back on track at Perry Park on Saturday night with a heartening 3-0 victory over Sunshine Coast FC.
The two were regular finals combatants in the now-defunct Queensland State League, though contrary to that league's recurring theme, Strikers this time prevailed at home thanks to three second-half goals from attacking trident Jonti Richter, Josh Taylor and Josh McVey.
The hosts' first victory in three matches was built on a clean sheet managed by an inexperienced defence after captain Nick Robinson joined Redlands prior to the weekend.
Sunshine Coast stayed in fifth despite the loss, while Strikers rose one position to third.
FNQFC Heat 0
Palm Beach Sharks 3 (Crazia 61' Hilton 86', 90+2')
The longest trip in the league proved to be a memorable one for Palm Beach when they scored twice late to see off Far North Queensland in Cairns on Saturday night.
Striker Matt Hilton was the hero for the visitors, striking in the 86th and 92nd minutes to ensure teammate Michele-Emanuele Crazia's 61st minute opener would be rewarded.
While it was just their third win of the season, the result made it two from two for the Sharks after last weekend's defeat of Brisbane Strikers - a pair of victories which has lifted them above Heat and into eighth.
Brisbane City 5 (Dougall 10' Frazier 27', 64' Murray 59' Sakurai 82')
Northern Fury 0
Brisbane City continued their highly impressive form on Sunday with a commanding 5-0 victory over Northern Fury at Spencer Park.
City's seventh win on the trot, a run that has yielded four clean sheets and second-place on the NPL ladder, came courtesy of four different goalscorers as the hosts dominated from start to finish.
Brisbane Roar NYL player Ken Dougall opened the scoring on ten minutes from a spectacular volley, a lead that was doubled by half-time with American import Eric Frazier joining the scoresheet.
Frazier notched a second after the break in between goals from Antonio Murray and Yoshi Sakurai as City, announced as one of Roar's pre-season opponents, stayed equal on points with Strikers but with a match in hand.
POSTPONED: Moreton Bay United Jets vs. Western Pride