The Gap FC have all but claimed the NPLW premiership, stunning second-placed Lions FC 8-0 away from home.
Meanwhile, BRFC/NTC have defeated Moreton Bay United 3-1 ensuring the battle for fourth place goes down to the wire as third-placed Souths United slipped up against Mitchelton FC.
Elsewhere in Round 24, there were 5-0 victories for both Eastern Suburbs and Gold Coast United, while the competition’s bottom two sides played out an entertaining five goal thriller.
Moreton Bay United 1 (Schaefer 59’ (P))
BRFC/NTC 3 (Margraf 6’, Freier 25’, Palmer 42’ (P))
Wolter Park
BRFC close the gap on fourth
BRFC have comfortably overcome Moreton Bay United 3-1 at Wolter Park as the race for fourth gets even tighter.
BRFC were in control from the offset, finding the back of the net in just the sixth minute courtesy of a goal from Anna Margraf.
Laini Freier then doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 25th minute, before Hollie Palmer ensured they went into break three goals to the good, calmly converting from the penalty spot.
Moreton Bay grabbed a consolation goal in the 59th minute, also from the penalty spot, but it proved too little too late for the hosts who now find themselves sitting just one win above BRFC in fourth place.
SWQ Thunder FC 3 (Hutton 9’, Lloyd 41’, Franke 53’)
Mudgeeraba Soccer Club 2 (Heggie 7’, 23’)
Clive Berghofer Stadium
Thunder prevail in five goal thriller
SWQ Thunder have triumphed 3-2 against fellow cellar dwellers Mudgeeraba in a result that will go a long way to determining who collects this year’s wooden spoon.
The Thunder were forced to come from a goal down twice before eventually hitting the lead in the 53rd minute via defender Madison Franke.
An early double to Mudgeeraba’s Tara Heggie not enough for the visitors as they now stare down the dreaded wooden spoon.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers 2 (Yang 34’, Christmas 38’)
Logan Lightning 2 (Kubicki Garcia 9’, Hein 63’)
Ballinger Park
Honours even at Ballinger Park
The points have been shared between Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Logan Lightning in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Ballinger Park.
Both teams have struggled for form this season but were at their entertaining best on Saturday night.
Centre back Cecylia Kubicki Garcia opened proceedings for the Lightning, scoring after nine minutes.
Sunshine Coast then equalised in the 34th minute through Rui Pu Yang, before quickly hitting the front four minutes later thanks to Samara Christmas.
The game took one final twist as substitute Gabrielle Hein grabbed a point for the visiting Lightning, equalising in the 63rd minute.
Eastern Suburbs 5 (Holzworth 12’, Tan 35’, Mckeen 82’, Amos 85’, 90+1’)
Western Pride FC 0
Heath Park
Five of the best for Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs have comprehensively defeated 11th placed Western Pride 5-0 at Heath Park.
Annalese Holzworth and Priscilla Tan both scored first half goals, with a Susanne Mckeen strike and a late Georgina Amos double rounding out the scoring.
Lions FC 0
The Gap FC 8 (Petterwood 3’, 15’, 18’, 62’, 66’, Blackburn 7’, Bodey 58’, Miller 84’)
Lions Stadium
The Gap all but seal Premiership
Premiers elect the Gap FC have claimed an earth-shattering 8-0 victory over their main premiership rival, second placed Lions FC, in a result that all but sees them claim the NPLW title.
Few could’ve predicted what was to unfold at Lions Stadium as the Gap outclassed the hosts, thanks mostly to an incredible five goal haul from star striker Tiarne Petterwood.
The mammoth win sees the Gap remain atop of the ladder, now sitting six points ahead of the second placed Lions and all but guarantees them the coveted NPLW premiership.
Mitchelton FC 2 (Unwin 21’, Buchanan 41’)
Souths United 1 (Chapman 3’)
Teralba Park
Mitchelton edge past Souths
Mitchelton FC have scrapped past Souths FC 2-1 at home, despite conceding after just three minutes.
Superstar striker Amy Chapman got Souths off to the perfect start, but Mitchelton fought back with goals in the 21st and 41st minutes respectively to take all three points.
Gold Coast United 5 (Cave 41’, Thompson 56’, 90+3’, Akins 69’, Byfield 90+1’)
Capalaba Bulldogs 0
Runaway Bay Soccer Club
Gold Coast rout Bulldogs
Gold Coast United have recorded a dominant 5-0 victory at home against Capalaba Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs were still in the contest at half time, trailing only 1-0 to a 41st minute Phoebe Cave goal.
Gold Coast then came storming out of the blocks after the break, scoring four second half goals to claim a resounding 5-0 win.
Words: Samuel Johnson
Image: Ian Judd
