After a week off due to FFA Cup fixtures over the Anzac Day long weekend, the Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) 1 and FQPL 2 gets back underway on Friday night.
In the FQPL 1, only Brisbane City have an unblemished record of five wins in as many games, although Rochedale Rovers are hot on their heels with a game in hand.
It will be a big weekend for winless Wynnum Wolves and Mitchelton FC, as both sides come up against mid-table Southside Eagles and Sunshine Coast Fire respectively.
In the FQPL 2, Taringa Rovers and Caboolture FC are neck-and-neck at the top of the table, with both clubs yet to drop a point after four games.
It will be an evenly matched weekend as the top four and bottom four play-off against one another, headlined by Saturday’s blockbuster between Caboolture FC and fourth-placed North Star.
At the other end of the table, cellar–dwellers Virginia United and Coomera Colts are both searching for a breakthrough win of the season, while Samford Rangers host Magic United on Sunday afternoon.
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Feature matches:
SWQ Thunder v Western Pride
Clive Berghofer Stadium will play host to a double header this Saturday afternoon, with the NPL Women’s side set to face Eastern Suburbs and the FQPL 1 side up against Western Pride in a Western derby.
SWQ Thunder made history last weekend by defeating Toowong FC in the FFA Cup to progress to Round 6 of the competition for the first time.
Saturday night will be the second time the Toowoomba-based Thunder and Ipswich-based Western Pride have met this month, with the Thunder winning 4-1 in their FFA Cup tie on the first weekend of April.
Thunder has an impressive record against Ipswich sides this season, beating Ipswich Knights in Round 2 of the FQPL 1 season.
Both teams enter the clash on nine points after three wins, although the Pride have two games in hand and will be eager to continue their three-game winning streak to catapult above their Western rivals on the FQPL 1 ladder.
Match details:
Saturday 1 May, 6:00pm
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Taringa Rovers v Grange Thistle
Taringa Rovers host Grange Thistle at Jack Speare Park as they look to extend their FQPL 2 winning streak to five games.
Taringa have been simply too good this season, and after registering a thumping 8-0 victory over Coomera Colts on Tuesday night, they are firming as the team to beat.
A large part of Taringa’s hot run of form can be attributed to their classy No. 10, Sean Karambasis, who has bagged 11 goals in four games – including three hat-tricks.
Grange Thistle are well aware of the Townsville striker’s qualities, with Karambasis scoring all four goals in the two Brisbane Premier League fixtures between Grange Thistle and Taringa last season.
But a win for Grange Thistle away from home over the league-leaders would make a huge statement, and potentially push them into third spot if Caboolture beat North Star on Saturday.
Match details:
Sunday 2 May, 4:00pm
Jack Speare Park, Indooroopilly
Key players:
Will Assante (Western Pride): Western Pride’s new recruit scored the winning goal against Southside Eagles in Round 3 and was the only Pride player on the scoresheet the last time Pride played against SWQ Thunder.
Will Orford (SWQ Thunder): Scored a brilliant hat-trick in SWQ Thunder’s FFA Cup win over Toowong FC last weekend.
Giuliano Marconato (Taringa Rovers): Marconato been overshadowed somewhat by the form of his strike partner Karambasis, but the youngster still has a very impressive four goals in as many games.
Cooper Budwee (Magic United): Scored a classy goal last weekend to close out Magic United’s 3-0 win over Virginia United.
FQPL 1 Schedule:
Wynnum Wolves v Southside Eagles
Friday 30 April, 7:30pm
Carmichael Park, Tingalpa
Ipswich Knights v Holland Park Hawks
Friday 30 April, 7:30pm
Eric Evans Oval, Bundamba
Mitchelton FC v Sunshine Coast FC
Saturday 1 May, 6:15pm
Teralba Park, Mitchelton
Souths United v Rochedale Rovers
Saturday 1 May, 6:30pm
Wakerley Park, Runcorn
BYE – Brisbane City
FQPL 2 Schedule:
Coomera Colts v Virginia United
Saturday 1 May, 5:15pm
Viney Park, Coomera
North Star v Caboolture FC
Saturday 1 May, 6:15pm
O’Callaghan Park, Zillmere
Samford Rangers v Magic United
Sunday 2 May, 3:00pm
Samford Parklands, Samford Valley
Image: Ant Sartori
