SWQ Thunder delivered an upset victory over Moreton Bay United, while North Queensland United were victorious in the relegation battle against Redlands United in Round 23 of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland.
Elsewhere, Cairns failed to maintain momentum from their mid-week FFA Cup win, falling to defeat at the hands of Western Pride.
Brisbane Strikers FC 8 (Maltby 32’, McLean 35’ (P), 64’, Steel 77’, Clulow 79’, Anich 83’, Matcham 87’, Palmer 88’)
Sunshine Coast FC 1 (Cooke 90’)
Perry Park 1
Strikers put eight past Sunshine Coast in dominant display
Brisbane Strikers have secured a spectacular 8-1 victory over Sunshine Coast FC at Perry Park, thanks to a barrage of second half goals.
The home side opened the scoring with a 32nd minute goal to Zachary Maltby, before doubling their lead thanks to a 35th minute penalty scored by Jake McLean – his first of two goals for the night.
An impressive team goal scoring effort in the second half saw goals to Strikers’ Braedon Steel, Trent Clulow, Joel Anich, Joshua Matcham and Ryan Palmer, as well as a second for McLean to well and truly put the game to bed, before Sunshine Coast’s Joshua Cooke grabbed one back for the visitors in the 90th minute.
Strikers secured an important three points which now sees them only four points behind fourth-placed Moreton Bay United after their weekend loss, while Sunshine Coast remain bound for relegation at the foot of the table.
Moreton Bay United FC 1 (Gwynn-Jones 63’)
SWQ Thunder FC 2 (Grant 52’, 78’ (P))
Wolter Park 1
Thunder upset fourth-placed Jets
SWQ Thunder have delivered a 2-1 victory to upset fourth-placed Moreton Bay United at Wolter Park on Saturday night.
Thunder opened the scoring in the 52nd minute through Anthony Grant for his first of two for the night, before Jets hit back soon after with a goal to Rhys Gwynn-Jones in the 63rd minute.
Scores remained locked until the 78th minute when Grant successfully netted a penalty to secure the win for the visitors.
The Jets’ top four spot could be in jeopardy if they fail to find some consistency in the final weeks of the regular season, with Brisbane Strikers now only four points behind them in fifth.
Western Pride FC 2 (Bird 55’, Duckworth 83’)
Cairns FC 0
Briggs Road Sporting Complex 1
Cairns fail to maintain FFA Cup momentum
Cairns FC have failed to maintain their momentum following their mid-week FFA Cup win, falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Western Pride FC on Saturday night.
Pride secured their fourth straight win thanks to second half goals to Mitchell Bird and Joseph Duckworth to deliver Cairns their fourth straight NPL loss.
Western Pride remain in the top two leading into the final rounds of the regular season following the win, while Cairns will look to improve their form coming into their final home match of the season this Saturday.
North Queensland United FC 5 (Green 20’, Richards 34’, 46’, 53’, Benjamin 86’)
Redlands United FC 1 (Fyfe 40’)
Brolga Park 1
North Queensland United victorious in relegation battle
North Queensland United have come out victorious in the relegation battle at Brolga Park, defeating Redlands United FC 5-1 with a convincing performance in front of a home crowd.
The home side opened the scoring with a Jarrod Green goal in the 20th minute, before a Matthew Richards hat-trick and an 86th minute goal to Masimango Benjamin put the game to bed.
The visitors got themselves back into the game late in the first half with a 40th minute goal to Graham Fyfe, but failed to control a dominant NQU in the remainder of the game.
The vital win sees United leapfrog Redlands to sit just outside of the relegation zone, while Redlands remain two points behind in the danger zone with only three rounds of the regular season remaining.
Magpies Crusaders FC 6 (Markham 11’, Farquhar 41’, 63’, 74’, Lyall 47’, 70’)
Brisbane Roar FC Youth 2 (Wenzel-Halls 45+3’, Talbot 50’)
Sologinkin Oval, Mackay
Magpies record impressive win
Magpies Crusaders have recorded their biggest win in their short history, defeating Brisbane Roar FC Youth 6-2 at Sologinkin Oval.
A Lewis Farquhar hat-trick, second half double to Michael Lyall and an early goal to Kyle Markham secured the victory for Magpies in their second win in at home in as many weeks.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls found the back of the net for the Young Roar in the added minutes of the first half, before Harry Talbot added another for the visitors five minutes after the break, but it wasn’t enough to snatch the victory from an impressive Magpies side.
Olympic FC 4 (Whyte 25’, Smith 26’, 88’ Lofthouse 43’)
Brisbane City FC 2 (Hugo 14’, Meyer 71’)
Goodwin Park 1
Four straight wins for Olympic
Olympic FC have recorded their fourth straight win, defeating crosstown rivals Brisbane City FC 4-2 at Goodwin Park on Sunday night.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 14th minute through Preston Hugo, before Olympic hit back with three goals before half time to Steve Whyte, Alexander Smith and Jez Lofthouse to take a 3-1 lead into the break.
Despite a 71st minute goal to James Meyer, City failed to regain control of the game and were forced to play the remainder with ten men after Alex Fiechtner was forced off through injury after all substitutions had been made.
Olympic capitalised on the advantage, with Smith netting his second for the night in the 88th minute and sealing the win for the home side, extending their unbeaten run to seven games going into the final rounds of the regular season.
Gold Coast United Football Club 0
Lions FC 6 (Simic 7’, 64’, Madrigal 28’, Hore 60’, Madle 78’ (P), Macuace 80’)
Station Reserve 1
Ten in a row for ladder leaders Lions
League leaders Lions FC have secured their tenth win in a row, comfortably defeating Gold Coast United FC 6-0 at Station Reserve on Sunday night.
The visitors proved they’re deserving of their current position at the top of the table, putting on a dominant display against a Gold Coast team who have now lost their last four.
A team goal scoring effort saw goals to Lions’ Jean Carlos Solorzano, Mitchell Hore, Marek Madle and Jheison Macuace, as well as a Matija Simic double.
Words: Elizabeth Lepre
Image: SWQ Thunder/Laurie Passante