Lions FC, Western Pride and Moreton Bay United all record wins in Round 22 of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland as Brisbane City and Brisbane Strikers share the spoils at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.
Magpies Crusaders secure a victory over northern rivals Cairns, while a 0-0 draw between the Young Roar and North Queensland United has the Townsville-based club still languishing in the relegation zone.
SWQ Thunder FC 1 (Hatfield 19’)
Lions FC 5 (Madle 5’, 57’, Macuace 17’, 30’, Carlos 40’)
Clive Berghofer Stadium
Lions win big on the road
Ladder leaders Lions FC recorded another resounding victory as they edge closer to claiming the NPL Queensland premiership.
The ruthless Lions put five past the struggling Thunder with Marek Madle opening the scoring for the visitors in the 5th minute.
Jheison Macuace then doubled their advantage in the 17th minute before Thunder hitman Christopher Hatfield pulled one back for the hosts two minutes later.
Any hope of a Thunder comeback was soon extinguished when Macuace scored his second for the match with Shaun Carlos also getting on the scoresheet for the Lions just before halftime.
Thunder managed to limit the damage in the second half with the Lions only adding one more goal to their tally with Madle securing a brace in the 57th minute.
Moreton Bay United FC 6 (Arop 13’, Capelo 17’, 35’ (P), Harris 44’, Cuttler 51’, Fox 90’)
Sunshine Coast FC 1 (Standish 54’)
Wolter Park
Jets dominant at home
Moreton Bay United have put six past bottom-placed Sunshine Coast FC at Wolter Park in an impressive display.
Moreton Bay’s Chom Arop kicked off the scoring in the 13th minute with Matthew Capelo adding another just four minutes later.
Capelo then scored again in the 35th minute, this time from the penalty spot, before centre back Benjamin Harris gave the hosts a three goal advantage going into halftime.
As the game resumed in the second half, Cuttler quickly extended Moreton Bay’s lead. Standish then provided the lone highlight for the visiting Sunshine Coast, finding the back of the net in the 54th minute.
The scoring for the match was rounded out by Brenton Fox in the final minute of the game, the midfielder adding a fifth for Moreton Bay.
Brisbane City FC 1 (K. Fiechtner 48’)
Brisbane Strikers FC 1 (Steel 2’)
Corporate Travel Management Stadium
Honours even in tense Brisbane derby
The spoils were shared between Brisbane City and Brisbane Strikers as a tense local derby ended 1-1 in the state’s capital.
Plenty of goals were expected pre-game, with both teams entering the clash in red hot form in front of goal, however it ultimately proved to be a low-scoring affair.
The Strikers began the game in perfect fashion, scoring after just two minutes through winger Braedon Steel. City then hit back in the 48th minute, courtesy of a Kai Fiechtner strike.
That’s how the game ended with both teams failing to find a winner, the result meaning City have drawn three of their last four matches.
Brisbane Roar FC Youth 0
North Queensland United FC 0
Logan Metro Sports Complex
No goals in Logan
Brisbane Roar Youth and North Queensland United could not be separated in a lacklustre 0-0 draw on Saturday night.
Neither team managed to find the back of the net in a forgettable encounter, a draw not enough for United who still find themselves stuck in the relegation zone.
Magpies Crusaders FC 3 (Lyall 66’, Farquhar 79’, Markham 90+3’)
Cairns FC 1 (Clark 83’)
Sologinkin Oval
Magpies too strong at home
The Magpies Crusaders have registered a comfortable 3-1 victory at home over Cairns FC.
All the goals were scored in the second half of the contest with Michael Lyall, Lewis Farquhar and substitute Kyle Markham doing the damage for the hosts.
An unlikely strike from goalkeeper Pierce Clark in the 83rd minute proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.
Gold Coast United FC 1 (Reeves 74’)
Western Pride FC 3 (Mchenery 34’, Bird 52’, Endean 65’)
Station Reserve
Pride win fiery clash
Western Pride have triumphed 3-1 over a Gold Coast United outfit that finished the game with nine players.
Gold Coast were reduced to 10 men early in the first half when defender Thomas Torszok received his marching orders for dissent.
Western Pride wasted no time making their advantage count, with central defender Daniel McHenery scoring the opener in the 34th minute.
Mitchell Bird and Adam Endean added further goals in the second half for Pride before Brandon Reeves pulled one back for United.
Gold Coast’s woes however were compounded when Bingham also received a red card for a late challenge in the 80th minute, the hosts forced to play the remaining 10 minutes with nine players.
Words: Samuel Johnson
Image: Magpies Crusaders United
