The sun is out and players are raring to go in Round 4 of the NPL Queensland Men’s and Round 3 of the NPL Queensland Women’s.  

In the men’s competition, three clubs – Peninsula Power, Brisbane Roar Youth and Olympic FC – remain unbeaten, with the Power and Olympic set for a top-of-the-table clash this weekend in Brisbane. 

At the other end of the ladder, cellar-dwellers Gold Coast United and Eastern Suburbs will meet in Tallebudgera on Friday night with both sides searching for their first win of the season. 

In the women’s competition, clubs are still jostling for position after wet weather has created havoc in the opening rounds of the season.  

Last season’s semi-finalists Capalaba, which is still yet to play a game due to washouts, will travel south for a tough assignment against high-flying Gold Coast United.  

Fans can watch all First Grade NPL Men’s and Women’s matches live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.

Feature matches: 

Olympic FC v Peninsula Power 

Last season’s top two sides Olympic FC and Peninsula Power have maintained their heavyweight status in 2021, with both sides yet to lose a game this season.

Defending premiers Power won its first two matches comfortably and were leading 2-0 against Gold Coast United in Round 3 before the game was abandoned due to thunder and lightning. 

Sam Cronin, Andrew Pengelly and Zander Guy are all looking dangerous in front of goals for the Redcliffe side, while defender Luke Plummer has scored two goals from two games. 

Similarly, Olympic have scored freely in its opening three outings, beating Moreton Bay United 4-1 in wet conditions on Sunday’s Round 3 clash. 2020 Player of the Year Daniel Leck is in particularly good form after scoring two goals last week in a man-of-the-match performance for Olympic. 

Both sides will be fired up for this one, but a win away from home for Power would bring them level on points with Olympic with a game in hand. 

Match Details:
Sunday 28 March, 6:00pm
Goodwin Park, Yeronga
WATCH

Gold Coast United v Capalaba FC – NOW WASHED OUT

The opening rounds of the 2021 NPL Women’s season could not have been more different for Gold Coast United and Capalaba.

Last season’s premiers Gold Coast United have won back-to-back games, scoring six goals to rocket to the top of the table.

In an end-to-end match last weekend against Sunshine Coast Wanderers, Gold Coast took all three points after Charlie Adamson scored her first senior NPL goal to make it 3-2 to the home side.

Capalaba, on the other hand, are still yet to take the field after its opening two games were washed out.

It has been a frustrating fortnight for the Bulldogs’ new coach Archford Kahondo, but Capalaba are welcoming back recently-released Brisbane Roar W-League player Billie Murphy and will have experience all over the park.

Both sides are expected to be in the top four at season’s end so this should be a cracker of a match.

Match Details: 
Saturday 27 March, 4:00pm
Coplick Family Sports Park, Tallebudgera
WASHED OUT

Key players: 

Alexander Parsons (Brisbane Roar Youth) – Parsons has four goals in just three games, including an outrageous backheel against in the Roar’s 2-2 draw with Lions last weekend. 

Nick Panetta (Gold Coast Knights) – The former Joey scored an absolute belter in the Knights’ 4-0 win over Magpies Crusaders, and will be up for a big away game against Capalaba on Sunday afternoon. 

Kylie Vecchio (Souths United) – The Vecchio sisters Monica and Kylie moved south from Innisfail this season and Kylie has made a perfect start to the NPL football, scoring a goal on debut for Souths last weekend. 

Shea Connors (Lions FC) – The American sharpshooter scored a double last week against Olympic and could be difficult to contain for an Eastern Suburbs side that lost 3-0 in Round 1 and were forced to sit out last week due to wet weather. 

NPL Men’s Schedule: 

Gold Coast United v Eastern Suburbs 
Friday 26 March, 8:00pm 
Coplick Family Sports Park, Tallebudgera
WATCH 

Moreton Bay United v Magpies Crusaders United
Saturday 27 March, 7:00pm
Wolter Park, Albany Creek
WATCH  

Redlands United v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Saturday 27 March, 7:30pm
Compass Grounds, Cleveland 
WATCH 

Logan Lightning v Lions FC
Saturday 27 March, 7:30pm
Cornubia Park, Loganholme
WATCH 

Capalaba FC v Gold Coast Knights
Sunday 28 March, 4:00pm
Max Haynes Field, Capalaba
WATCH 

Brisbane Roar Youth v Brisbane Strikers
Sunday 28 March, 6:00pm
Perry Park, Bowen Hills
WATCH

NPL Women’s Schedule: 

Western Pride v Souths United
Saturday 27 March, 5:15pm
Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich
WATCH

Logan Lightning v QAS 
Saturday 27 March, 5:15pm
Cornubia Park, Loganholme
WATCH 

Olympic FC v Moreton Bay United
Saturday 27 March, 6:15pm
Goodwin Park, Yeronga
WATCH 

Lions FC v Eastern Suburbs
Saturday 27 March, 7:00pm
Lions Stadium, Richlands
WATCH 

Sunshine Coast Wanderers v Virginia United
Sunday 28 March, 4:00pm
Ballinger Park, Buderim
WATCH 

The Gap FC v Peninsula Power
Sunday 28 March, 4:00pm
Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap
WATCH 

Mitchelton FC v Brisbane City
Sunday 28 March, 5:15pm
Teralba Park, Mitchelton
WATCH

Image: Patrick Kearney