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Round 11 Preview: Leading teams clash in key fixtures
Round 11 will see the top half of the table make some key moves, with a handful of leading teams clashing for three points.
Who will remain at the top of the table? Who will maintain winning streaks? We take a look ahead to a key round of matches.
By Tyler Sunderland and Rowan Schindler
NPL
SWQ Thunder FC | vs | Sunshine Coast Fire FC
Clive Berghofer Stadium | Saturday | 5pm
Fire and Thunder to clash
SWQ Thunder will look to go one better in round 11, after they secured a draw against a Moreton Bay United side which sit inside the top half of the NPL table. The Thunder will now focus on taking all three points against the struggling Sunshine Coast Fire, who suffered their eighth straight loss last weekend, going down heavily against the Brisbane Strikers.
The Fire will again go to the drawing board in order to find a way to change their fortunes. They will have to do so on the road, as they travel west to Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Lions FC | vs | Cairns FC Lions Stadium | Saturday | 6pm
Lions keen to defend the den once more
A dramatic finish to their last game against Gold Coast United saw Lions FC secure a 3-2 victory, thanks to a Shaun Carlos double, which included a last minute strike. The result gave Lions FC their fourth consecutive win, and will look to add another notch on their winning streak tally when they welcome Cairns FC.
The orange and blue from Cairns were unable to defend their home turf against Western Pride FC, conceding four goals in the process. They will look to plug their defensive leaks this weekend, against a Lions side that have had no troubles finding the back of the net this season with 27 goals.
Western Pride FC | vs | Brisbane Roar FC Youth Briggs Road Sporting Complex | Saturday | 7pm
Pride waiting for Olympic slip up
The pride of the West are doing their very best to keep up with competition leaders Olympic FC. Western Pride continued on their winning ways last weekend, securing a 4-2 victory against Cairns FC. Adam Endean put the result beyond doubt with a double, whilst being supported by Andrew Pengelly and Dylan Wenzel-Halls who both found goals of their won.
Brisbane Roar FC Youth sit only five points behind their round 11 opponents, after a successful trip to Mackay. A win will potentially see the Roar sneak into the top four, and inch closer towards the competition leaders.
Magpies Crusaders FC | vs | Redlands United FC Sologinkin Oval | Saturday | 7pm
Redlands set sail
The Mackay Magpies will hope their first official home game in over a month will help them double their win tally. Their most recent game was an unofficial home game against the Brisbane Roar FC, in which they were unable to prevent Roar striker Rahmat Akbari from being the difference between the two sides, finding his fourth goal of the season.
Trekking up the Queensland coastline for this fixture will be Redlands United, who snapped a three-game losing streak against NQ United. Alex Warrilow earned Team of the Week honors with his maiden hat trick for 2018, and will look to replicate such a performance again this coming Saturday.
Moreton Bay United FC | vs | Gold Coast United FC Wolter Park | Saturday | 7pm
Can Gold Coast find points at Wolter Park?
Moreton Bay United may feel like they left two points out west last weekend, drawing 1-1 with the SWQ Thunder. Their chance to join the round 11 winners’ circle will come against a Gold Coast side that is also wishing to return to winning ways.
Gold Coast United were on the wrong side of a nail-bitting 3-2 thriller against Lions FC, but will take confidence in matching it with a top four outfit. Their chance to move up the competition’s standings will come at Wolter Park, which has only seen two Moreton Bay defeats this season, both against top four teams.
NQ United FC | vs | Brisbane City FC Brolga Park | Sunday | 3pm
City travel to United country
North Queensland United will welcome Brisbane City to Brolga Park for Sunday afternoon NPL action. NQ United are on a run of defeats, most recently to Redlands United FC. They are currently sitting on nine competition points, which has not changed since their round six win against SWQ Thunder.
Brisbane City will be the side to travel for this game, and will look to break a two game losing streak. Losing 3-1 last weekend to Olympic FC is no doubt a result which Brisbane City won’t be too disheartened by, however they will want to make amends as soon as possible with a win this weekend.
Olympic FC | vs | Brisbane Strikers FC Goodwin Park | Sunday | 5pm
| LIVE STREAM FIXTURE |
Strikers look to cut down Olympic in top Four Clash!
The final NPL fixture of round 11 will see Brisbane Strikers travel over the river to face Olympic FC. It is no secret how well Olympic are playing this season, still undefeated after 10 rounds. Brisbane Strikers will be looking to give the red and white their maiden defeat, and better yet on their home ground.
The Strikers will fancy themselves a strong chance, as they’re on a strong run themselves. A strong 7-1 victory over Sunshine Coast FC last weekend added to their winning streak that has seen them enter the top four.
Join us on Football Queensland Facebook and YouTube for this clash, live and free at 5pm on Sunday.
NPLW
BRFC/NTC | vs | Moreton Bay United FC Wolter Park | Friday | 8.30pm
Roar keen to overtake into fifth
BRFC/NTC have a big chance to overtake their round 11 opponents on the standings, as they go head-to-head this Friday night. The Roar had their winning ways disrupted on the weekend, going down 1-0 against Lions FC. Their opponents are Moreton Bay United, who sit two points above the Roar.
Moreton Bay United had a different round 10 experience, winning 14-2 against Mudgeeraba SC. While the goal scoring duties were shared in the game, it was Alexandra Schaefer that did the most damage, as she scored four to cap a top performance.
Western Pride FC | vs | Eastern Suburbs FC Briggs Road Sporting Complex | Saturday | 5pm
Eastern Suburbs travel west to topple cross-town rivals
Western Pride will be keen to find their first win in almost a month this weekend, when they take on Eastern Suburbs. The green and white of Ipswich faced The Gap in the most recent game, which occurred on Wednesday Night. Conceding five goals will no doubt be the focus area of improvement, as they look to power up the competition standings.
Eastern Suburbs most recent game was also against The Gap, going down 4-2. Both teams involved in this fixture will be looking for a win to start their mid-season push towards the top four.
Logan Lightning FC | vs | Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Cornubia Park | Saturday | 6pm
Wanderers head into the storm
Sunshine Coast Wanderers fell at the last moment against SWQ Thunder last weekend, but round 11 will be another challenge as they take on Logan Lightning. The two sides have bright talent in the ranks but are yet to find consistency. The Wanderers will look to tighten their defence as they face a Lightning side which knows how to score.
Logan occupy 13th position, two places and one point below Sunshine Coast. The match is between two teams at the lower end of the table, but there will be fireworks as three points are desperately needed.
The Gap FC | vs | Lions FC
Walton Bridge Reserve | Saturday | 6pm
| LIVE STREAM FIXTURE |
Clash of the giants
A blockbuster in every way possible, these two sides are head-to-head on the table. The Gap currently sit in first place on 27 points, with Lions FC just two points behind with one game in hand – both teams share the same goal difference of 39.
The Gap FC have the home ground advantage, which may prove decisive as there is very little separating these two sides on paper. The Gators’ Ruth Blackburn has been a midfield general for her side, and will lead by example. A goal scoring midfielder, she will be tracked by the Lions.
For Lions FC, it’s their attack which are frighteningly potent, with Tegan Riding boasting 14 goals to her name after just nine matches. Importantly, they also have the strongest defence in the league, having conceded just six goals in nine matches. The Gap FC may find it hard to break through the Lions and will rely on their midfield to do the hard work.
Tune in to this match at 6pm, Saturday, on Football Queensland Facebook or YouTube.
Capalaba Bulldogs FC | vs | Gold Coast United FC John Fredericks Sportsfields | Saturday | 7pm
Mid-table challengers to stake their claims
A clash of two mid-table teams who sit on 10 points but who both possess talent to rival any team in the competition. Gold Coast United boast the likes of Meaghan McElligott, who has banged away a staggering 18 goals in nine games. Capalaba on the other hand, have the in-form Vicky Lines, who has eight goals in eight games.
These two teams have suffered from inconsistency through the first 10 rounds and will look to this game to separate themselves for the pack. Gold Coast have played one more match and flaunt a superior goal difference and this could be their chance to announce themselves as more than a mid-table team.
Mudgeeraba SC | vs | SWQ Thunder FC
Sid Bigg Park | Sunday | 3pm
Wallabies and Thunder to clash for three points
SWQ Thunder won their first points of the season last weekend, with a crucial 4-3 win over Sunshine Coast Wanderers. Mudgeeraba SC were unfortunately on the losing end of a big scoreline they will like to forget. Thunder languish on three points in 14th place as Mudgeeraba sit in 12th just one point ahead. This match is a chance for both teams to move forward at the expense of their opposition.
The Wallabies have shown they have the ability to score goals, with Sarah Skinner leading the way with seven goals in nine games, but it’s their defence which needs to tighten up. The same could be said for Thunder, as Louise Rolfe has an identicle record as Skinner, with the Thunder leaking goals, but perhaps notably fewer than Mudgeeraba.
This match will have goals are these two teams go blow-for-blow for much-needed points.
Souths United FC | vs | Mitchelton FC
Wakerley Park 2 | Sunday | 6pm
Souths look to defend their lofty position
Souths United have been setting the pace this season as they join The Gap FC on 27 points at the top of the NPLW ladder. Souths have the ability to play beautiful football, with skillful attackers Amy Chapman, Billie Murphy and Teonie Rushton scoring 20 goals between them. The synthetic pitch at Wakerley Park has been a happy hunting-ground for the team, having won every game at home, as many away sides struggle to adapt.
Mitchelton FC are proving to be the dark horses of the competition as they occupy fourth position on 19 points. Katie McDonald and Fern Doyle each have eight goals from 10 games, as scoring has not been a problem for the Mustangs. Their defence will have to step up for this clash, with 23 goals conceded, the likes of Chapman and co. will have to be marked closely. If Mitchelton can keep their eye on them, they could come away with three points which will see them really stamp their feet on the competition, and break from the mid-table pack.
FQPL
Mitchelton FC | vs | Souths United FC
Teralba Park | Friday | 8.15pm
| LIVE STREAM FIXTURE |
Mustangs look to kick Souths
A crucial encounter as both Mitchelton FC and Souths United look to keep pace with the top four. The Mustangs have 10 points from seven matches, three points behind seventh placed Souths, who boast thirteen points from eight matches.
Souths’ Kado Aoci has seven goals to his name after eight matches and is proving to be his side’s go-to man. Mitchelton have shared the goal-scoring responsibility between both Jordan Dozzi and Christopher Bacon, who have both poached five goals each.
Both sides will want the three points to keep pace with the top half, as second placed Sunshine Coast Wanderers can only boast 17 points. That touching distance adds to the importance of a win over a fellow mid-table team and this match will prove decisive.
Join us live and free on Friday at 8.15pm on Football Queensland Facebook or YouTube.
Peninsula Power FC | vs | Logan Lightning FC
AJ Kelly Park |Saturday | 6pm
Lightning look to cause power outage
Peninsula are setting a fine example on top of the FQPL ladder, with a maximum 30 points from 10 rounds. Power have conceded just 10 goals and scored a whopping 44 on their 10-game winning streak. Peninsula boast the kind of attacking play NPL teams aspire to and are playing like a team destined to grace that level of competition.
Rolling into AJ Kelly Park will be a Logan side who sit in third position and looking to cause a blackout. Lightning have been somewhat surprising in their climb up the FQPL ladder – they’ve conceded just four more goals than Peninsula and have scored 26. Logan’s points tally of 16 may be some way behind Peninsula’s, but if they can keep Power’s Dean Briggs (10 goals) and Oliver Smith (9 goals) quiet, they could grab something from this match.
Wolves FC | vs | Wide Bay Buccaneers
Carmichael Park | Saturday | 6pm
Buccaneers look for cutting edge against resurgent Wolves
Wolves FC began the 2018 FQPL season slowly, suffering a few unflattering defeats, but in the space of a few rounds they have turned things around. Alejandro Martinez has led the way for Wolves, with six goals in seven matches as the side climbed from 12 to 10th in less than four rounds.
The Buccaneers are on the other end of the story, having started the season with big defeats and hard lessons. It is never too late to turn things around though, as they will need to dig deeper and find one or two players who can lead the way and hold the team together. In saying that, a handful of Buccaneers players do not look out-of-place in this competition, with the likes of Ben Wilks, Brad Mitchell or Sam Meyer able to play in almost any team.
If Wide Bay can find a formula with their new coach, there is no reason why Wolves couldn’t be caught napping in their lair.
Rochedale Rovers FC | vs | Holland Park Hawks FC Underwood Park | Saturday | 6.15pm
Hawks look to stall fall against Rovers
Holland Park Hawks burst out of the FQPL gates and sat in second position for the opening number of rounds. Since then, the Hawks have dropped to ninth position, while the Rovers bounced up to fifth after a few surprise defeats. Holland Park sit on 10 points, just five points behind Rochedale, with a win vital to both teams to maintain their mid-table positions in a dense pack – just 10 points separate 11th place from second.
Holland Park will look to goal-scoring captain Marek Madle, who has a staggering 16 goals from nine games. He’ll be closely and ably watched by Rochedale defender and former Socceroo Jon McKain, which will prove a key on-field battle and underlying narrative for this fixture.
Benjamin Njie will be Rovers’ goal scoring threat, with eight goals in nine games, he has proven a handful when he fires.
Eastern Suburbs FC | vs | Ipswich Knights FC
Heath Park | Saturday | 6.30pm
Ipswich look to end the Shol-show
Eastern Suburbs boast a free-scoring attacker in Youeil Shol, who has banged 14 goals in eight games for the Tigers. A free-roaming attacker who doesn’t just score but also creates goals, Ipswich will have to nullify Shol if they hope to get any result from this fixture.
Easts started the season well and find themselves in sixth position in the FQPL, while the Knights have had a stop-start journey, with the loss of a head coach and a number of key players. They have recruited a few key singings since incumbent head coach Mick Matthews took the reins just a few rounds ago. Since then, the Knights managed a surprise 0-0 draw with second placed Sunshine Coast Wanderers and a respectable 1-0 loss to Peninsula Power. Last weekend’s 5-1 loss to Mitchelton was a set-back, but Eastern Suburbs could be in for a real match on the rebound from that defeat.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers | vs | Capalaba Bulldogs FC
Ballinger Park | Sunday | 4pm
Wanderers look to get back on track
Sunshine Coast Wanderers’ defence looked impenetrable until their 1-0 loss to Souths United last weekend. The Wanderers’ goal has only been breached six times in eight games this season, the best in the league. That statistic is the reason they propelled to second spot on the table. Couple that with a strong, skillful midfield and capable attack, and Sunshine Coast are a well-rounded team with two games in hand.
Capalaba Bulldogs have one game in hand and sit in fourth position on 15 points, just two points behind Sunshine Coast. The Wanderers loss to Souths mean they aren’t immune, especially against fellow top-half clubs. The Bulldogs have potential to cause upset on the Coast, with Stuart Edgar leading their scoring with 11 goals from nine games.
A big game, as Capalaba have the opportunity to leap Sunshine Coast to second place, and the Wanderers look to regain what had been a well-deserved unbeaten run.
Southside Eagles FC | BYE |
The Southside Eagles started the season with promise and boast potential to be a strong team, however the run of results have not been in their favour as they sit in 12th place in the 13 team competition.
A bye this weekend will mean time to reflect and pin-point areas of improvement ahead of their round 12 match against Holland Park Hawks in the battle of the birds of prey.
