Olympic survive a scare against Magpies Crusaders as ten-man Strikers stumble in Ipswich. The Thunder leapt out of the relegation zone with a stunning win over the Roar in the Garden City whilst City claimed bragging rights in the Classico.
SWQ Thunder 4 (Grant 23’ 63’, Hatfield 37’, Weber 90+3’)
Brisbane Roar Youth 0
Clive Berghofer Stadium
Thunder storm home against Roar
South West Queensland Thunder recorded their biggest win of the season to consign the Brisbane Roar Youth to their third successive defeat in Toowoomba on Saturday evening.
Anthony Grant scored a goal in each half along with strikes from Chris Hatfield and Dan Weber to stun an inexperienced Roar Youth side who are sliding down the table after enduring a torrid run of results.
This result marks the Thunder’s first win of the season at Clive Berghofer Stadium whilst the Roar Youth have now picked up just four points from their last six away matches.
Olympic 5 (Byrne 11’, 21’, Nazary 75’, Sanders 85’, Lofthouse 87’)
Magpies Crusaders 2 (Farquhar 12’, Markham 29’)
Goodwin Park
Olympic survive Magpies scare
Olympic retained top spot in the NPL Queensland, although left it late to see off a spirited Magpies Crusaders team at Goodwin Park on Saturday night.
Danny Byrne twice gave Olympic the lead in the first quarter of the game but the hosts were twice pegged back thanks to goals from two of Magpies’ South Australian contingent Lewis Farquhar and Kyle Markham.
The Magpies Crusaders held the league leaders until quarter of an hour remained at which point the flood gates opened for Zelfy Nazary, Kieran Sanders and Jez Lofthouse to secure the points for the hosts.
Lions FC 0
Brisbane City 1 (Sibatuara 45’)
Lions Stadium
City claim bragging rights in Classico
Brisbane City claimed bragging rights in the Brisbane Classico against Lions thanks to a Sam Sibatuara strike on the stroke of half time on Saturday night at Lions Stadium.
In what was a typically frenetic, keenly-contested encounter, City were forced onto the back foot in the second half after an enforced goalkeeper change just two minutes after the break due to injury.
However, in front of the Football Queensland live stream cameras, City held on to record their fourth win in a row and consign Lions to just their third defeat of the season.
Moreton Bay United 2 (Janovsky 17’ 49’)
Redlands United 1 (Kuboyama 47’)
Wolter Park
Moreton Bay leap to third after Janovsky double
Moreton Bay United moved into third spot on the ladder with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Redlands United at Wolter Park on Saturday night.
A goal in each half from Jets captain Alex Janovsky – the second coming just two minutes after Shuto Kuboyama had drawn Redlands level – was enough to extend the hosts’ unbeaten run to six matches.
Kuboyama’s 11th goal of the season was not enough for Redlands United who suffered their fourth defeat in a row and tenth of the season.
Western Pride 1 (Duckworth 39’)
Brisbane Strikers 0
Briggs Road Sporting Complex
Pride bounce back over 10-man Strikers
Western Pride rectified their recent form wobble and ended Strikers’ nine game winning run with a 1-0 victory over the reigning Premiers at Briggs Road Sporting Complex on Saturday night.
The visitors had Michael McGowan sent off in the 26th minute for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity – and the reigning Champions exploited their man advantage shortly afterwards through Joe Duckworth’s eighth goal of the season.
The Strikers pressed hard for an equaliser in the second period despite their numerical disadvantage but the Pride held on to record their first ever “double” over the Strikers after their 2-1 opening day victory at Perry Park.
Gold Coast United 3 (Panetta 54’, 57’, Reeves 90’)
Cairns FC 1 (Taylor 16’)
Station Reserve
Coast fight back to deny Cairns
Ten-man Gold Coast United came from behind to stun a brave Cairns FC side at Robina Station Reserve on Saturday night to record their third league victory in a row.
Cairns Captain Jamie Carroll saw his 21st minute penalty saved by substitute goalkeeper Eligh Williams after Gold Coast goalkeeper Luka Zoric was sent off in the 21st minute.
That would have handed the visitors a two goal lead after Josh Taylor’s opener and the Cairns captain would be left to rue his mistake when Nicholas Panetta scored a brace and Brandon Reeves secured the win with a goal in the final stages of the match.
Sunshine Coast 1 (Koshimizu 55’)
North Queensland United 4 (Nicopoulos 2’, Waples 15’ Richards 75’ 90’)
Kawana Sports Precinct Field 5
Change of scene no tonic for Fire
Sunshine Coast were plunged into more trouble at the foot of the table as North Queensland United moved out of the bottom two with a 4-1 victory at Kawana Precinct on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors recorded their first win since Round 10 thanks to early goals from Nicopoulos and Corey Waples before a Richards brace made the result safe in the closing stages.
Sunshine Coast did pull a goal back through Koshimizu in the second half but lost their second game in a row to remain rooted to the foot of the NPL ladder.
Words: Simon Smale
Image: Ian Judd