Round nine cannot start soon enough, with football fans itching to see their sides back onto the field after a weekend off.
Will the break see a change in fortunes for some sides? Or will the undefeated teams continue on their merry ways?
By Tyler Sunderland
NPL
Lions FC | vs | SWQ Thunder
Lions Stadium | Saturday | 6:00pm
Lions hope to fight off Thunder
Lions FC kick off their post-Easter campaign when they host SWQ Thunder on Saturday night. Lions FC’s last game determined the current top four, as the win against Moreton Bay United lifted the Richlands based side past Moreton Bay and into the top four. SWQ Thunder are on the other end of the standings, and are fighting to move out of the bottom four.
Their most recent outing saw SWQ Thunder clash against the Brisbane Strikers in a Round four catch-up game, going down 5-0.
Brisbane Strikers | vs | Brisbane City
Perry Park | Saturday | 6:00pm
| Live stream fixture |
The River City derby
The Battle of Breakfast Creek will serve up a delicious treat for fans on Saturday night, when Brisbane Strikers and Brisbane City battle it out for the first time this season. The last time these two sides met was in the Kappa Silver Boot semi-final, where the Strikers were 1-0 victors.
The Strikers are undefeated in their last five games, roaring into the top four after a rough start to the season. Brisbane City have also recovered from a slow start and are in seventh position thanks to ten points from their last four games.
Western Pride FC | vs | Gold Coast United
Briggs Road Sporting Complex | Saturday | 7:00pm
Gold Coast aim to steal points from the west
Western Pride FC are six from seven games so far this season, and would have no intentions of slowing down when they face Gold Coast United this Saturday at Briggs Road Sporting Complex. The Ipswich based side continued their winning ways in round eight courtesy of a 7-1 score-line, which included five different goal scorers. Hoping to limit Western Pride’s scoring prowess is Gold Coast United, who have managed two wins on the trot.
A win this round would be timely for Gold Coast, as they are among a tightly contested mid-table with just four points separating fourth and 10th.
North QLD United | vs | Brisbane Roar Youth FC
Brolga Park | Saturday | 7:00pm
Roar travel to the north
Both teams in the fixture are coming off round eight defeats, and will be looking to make amends this Saturday night. The hosts have not won at home since round two, and will aim to bury that statistic.
Roar’s round eight defeat came from an Olympic FC side who are yet to suffer a loss this season. The Roar will no doubt be looking to learn from that defeat, and return to the winners circle for the first time since round five.
Magpies Crusaders FC | vs | Cairns FC
Sologinkin Oval | POSTPONED until April 24
North Queensland bragging rights put on ice
|This match has been postponed until ANZAC Day due to wet weather |
Another battle of the north will occur on Saturday, as Mackay Magpies host Cairns FC in their round nine action. Cairns are currently “King in the North” after beating NQ United in a northern derby, but Magpies have the chance to snap the crown away. Mackay are keen to end a four-game losing streak, and will see this round as a chance to use their home ground advantage to do just that.
Cairns FC have had a slightly better record of late, gaining four points in their last three games. Both teams will see this game as a chance to break away from their northern Queensland rivals.
Sunshine Coast FC | vs | Moreton Bay United
Kawana Sports Western Precinct | Sunday | 2:00pm
Moreton Bay travel up the coast
Sunshine Coast FC will hope the Easter break brings new fortunes to their 2018 campaign. The Sunshine Coast side are yet to add another win to their round two victory against Cairns FC, but will hope to have tightened their defence moving forward. For Moreton Bay United, their 2-0 loss against Lions FC knocked them outside of the top four.
If Moreton Bay overcome Sunshine Coast at home, they will stay ahead of several teams ready to pounce on the top four.
Olympic FC | vs | Redlands United FC
Goodwin Park | Sunday | 5:00pm
Redlands look to spoil Olympic’s party
Olympic FC are the team to beat in 2018, and Redlands United will aim to be the first side to do just that this season. Traveling to Goodwin Park has not been a successful trip for most sides, with only Cairns FC able to steal points off Olympic FC in a draw earlier in the year.
Redlands are looking to snap a two-game losing streak, and would no doubt be keen to do so against the competition leaders.
NPLW
SWQ Thunder | vs | Moreton Bay United
USQ Toara Park | Saturday | 3:00pm
Can Moreton Bay silence the Thunder?
SWQ Thunder continue to chase their first 2018 victory, after going down 8-0 at the hands of Lions FC in round eight. Louise Rolfe will hope to add to her tally of six goals, as Thunder’s defence will also look to tighten their screws, conceding 42 goals so far.
Their opponents in this fixture are Moreton Bay United, who are coming off a 6-1 victory against Sunshine Coast Wanderers. The convincing victory included doubles from both Velvet See and Lauren Spreadborough, who will be aiming for a repeat of their efforts in-front of goal.
The Gap FC | vs | Mitchelton FC
Walton Bridge Reserve | Saturday | 3:00pm
Battle of north-west Brisbane
It’s the Settlement Road derby, as just 9km of bitumen separate The Gap FC and Mitchelton FC. The Gap are one of two NPLW teams yet to suffer a loss in 2018, and will have to overcome fourth placed Mitchelton FC if they wish to remain undefeated. Tiarne Petterwood and Greta Bodey are leading the way in-front of goal for The Gap, and will aim to add to the teams tally of 34 goals.
For Mitchelton, a win will see them go level with The Gap on 18 points, which would be enough to get the Mustangs blood boiling for this encounter.
Western Pride | vs | Gold Coast United
Briggs Road Sporting Complex | Saturday | 5:00pm
Pride set to defend home turf
Gold Coast United sit three points behind Western Pride, and will be set on closing that gap in round nine. Gold Coast will have to do so on Western Pride soil, as they travel out to Briggs Road. Gold Coast’s attacking firepower will cause Pride concerns.
For Western Pride, a 5-3 win saw the side gain their first win since round two. Pride boast some quality players across the park but are yet to hit their stride.
Mudgeeraba SC | vs | Lions FC
Sid Bigg Park | Sunday | 3:00pm
Lions to fight the Roos
Mudgeeraba suffered a respectable loss in their last game against Eastern Suburbs, going down 2-1. Their next opponents are Lions FC – a side yet to leave a fixture without all three points. While they will be backing themselves to continue their winning streak, Lions FC should be mindful of a Mudgeeraba side that look to continuingly improve after a slow start to the season.
Souths United | vs | Logan Lightning
Wakerley Park | Sunday | 6:00pm
South sides do battle
Souths United have recorded three wins in a row, as they sit three points clear on the NPLW standings. Souths will hope to replicate a strong round eight performance against Capalaba Bulldogs, where they notched four goals and also kept a clean sheet.
Logan Lightning had no such luck in their round eight clash, going down 5-3 to Western Pride but have a giant killing streak within them, having pushed The Gap all the way in a narrow 4-3 loss just a few weeks ago. At any moment, lightning could strike.
Bisbane Roar FC/NTC | vs | Eastern Suburbs
Heath Park | 7:30pm | Tuesday
| Live stream fixture |
Which side can roar the loudest?
The young lionesses take on the tigers. Brisbane Roar FC/NTC will battle it out against Eastern Suburbs in the final match of the round, set to be played mid-week on Tuesday evening. The Roar have found themselves on a run of victories, which they will be keen to continue for as long as possible to work their way up the competition standings.
Eastern Suburbs can potentially jump as high as fourth with a win against the young Roar side. Leading goal-scorer Georgina Amos will look to improve on her goal scoring tally of five, as the tigers try and defend their Heath Park lair for the fourth time this season.
FQPL
Peninsula Power | vs | Souths United
AJ Kelly Park | Saturday | 6:00pm
Souths do battle with undefeated Power
Peninsula Power return to AJ Kelly Park in round nine FQPL action, as they take on Souths United. Power are yet to drop a point in 2018, having eight wins in as many games. The visitors must break through a Peninsula defence which has only conceded four goals in 2018, and will look to leading goal-scorer Kado Aoci to add to his tally of six goals.
Wolves FC | vs | Southside Eagles
Carmichael Park | Saturday | 6:00pm
Eagles fly to Carmichael Park
Wolves FC’s most recent game was a surprise 3-0 victory over Eastern Suburbs in a mid-week catch-up game prior to the Easter long weekend. This brought the Wolves their first victory of the year, and will look to stay in the winner’s circle when they take on Southside Eagles. The Eagles were unable to get the job done against Eastern Suburbs in their most recent game, unable to stop Eastern Suburb’s forward Youeil Shol from bagging a hat-trick.
Logan Lightning | vs | Capalaba Bulldogs
Cornubia Park | Saturday | 6:00pm
Top four clash alert!
A top four battle will occur at Cornubia Park this Saturday night, when the Logan Lightning host Capalaba Bulldogs. Only two points separate the Lightning and the Bulldogs, who currently sit on 15 and 13 points respectively. Logan’s most recent game was a close 3-2 victory over Souths United, while Capalaba were able to dominate Holland Park in their catch-up game, coming out 7-2 victors.
Eastern Suburbs | vs | Holland Park Hawks
Heath Park | Saturday | 7:00pm
Tigers keen to bounce back against Hawks
Eastern Suburbs have had a rollercoaster last few weeks, which have included a 6-0 triumph over Rochedale Rovers, and most recently a 3-0 loss to Wolves FC. The Tigers sit one win behind their round nine opponents, and will be determined to close the gap. For the Hawks, their focus will be breaking a three-game losing streak and grabbing their first win in just over a month.
Mitchelton FC | vs | Wide Bay Buccaneers
Teralba Park | Saturday | 7:30pm
Buccaneers set sail once again
Wide Bay Buccaneers have been on the wrong end of some big score-lines this season, but will be aiming to flip the program after the Easter long weekend. The Buccs lost marquee man Ben Brookfield during the week, but gained a new head coach. Their first task to turn things around will be against Mitchelton FC, who would be receiving their third straight loss if unable to overcome the Buccaneers.
Mitchelton will hope their home advantage helps overcome the travelling Wide Bay side, who are travelling south for the fourth time this season.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers | vs | Ipswich Knights
Ballinger Park | Sunday | 4:00pm
| Live stream fixture |
Knights Wander up to Ballinger Park
In FQPL’s live streamed game for round nine, Ipswich Knights will travel to the Sunshine Coast. Waiting for them will be the Wanderers, who remain one of two undefeated sides in the FQPL. The Wanderers will no doubt look to their trio of goal scorers in Lynch, Fuller, and Scarff to grab another three points. The Knights will be aiming to break a four-game losing streak that has seen no Knights player able to find the back of the net.
