Match Week 7 of the Football Queensland Premier League kicks off this weekend, headlined by a top of the table clash between Caboolture and Taringa Rovers in the FQPL 2.

In FQPL 1, league-leaders Rochedale Rovers and Brisbane City are yet to lose a game, with City returning to action after last weekend’s bye.

City are away to ninth-placed Holland Park Hawks on Saturday night, with the Hawks coming off three consecutive losses including a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Knights last weekend.

It’s a big weekend for Souths United, who suffered a tough 6-1 loss to Rochedale Rovers last Saturday and will be eager to bounce back against fifth-placed Western Pride in Ipswich.

In FQPL 2, Gold Coast side Magic United will host Grange Thistle on Sunday afternoon, with both sides coming off encouraging wins last weekend.

Once again it will be another evenly matched weekend as the top four and bottom four play-off against one another. In the bottom half of the table, fifth-placed North Star face lowly Coomera Colts, while sixth-placed Samford Rangers are set to play seventh-placed Virginia United.

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Feature matches:

Rochedale Rovers v Ipswich Knights

League-leaders Rochedale Rovers host Ipswich Knights this Sunday afternoon, with the Rovers looking to extend their lead at the top of the table and their unbeaten streak to seven games.

Club captain Greg Cheshire leads the FQPL 1 Golden Boot race with seven goals after scoring a brace last weekend against Souths United, while new signing Frederick Yinka-Kehinde adds more firepower to the Rovers front third.

Ipswich are also coming off a massive win after beating Holland Park Hawks 7-0 last weekend. Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Knights turned it on in the second half to put six goals past the Hawks.

With attacking threats in Nicholas Edwards, Lucky Joe and Darryl Barton, who scored two last weekend, the Knights will be eager to get the snatch-and-grab win against Rochedale away from home.

The Ipswich side beat Rochedale twice in their two outings last season, so history is one their side.

Match details:
Sunday 9 May, 5:15pm
Underwood Park, Priestdale

Caboolture FC v Taringa Rovers

Last weekend was the first time this season that Taringa Rovers have lost a game and the first time they have been held scoreless.

They will be looking for a much-improved performance this weekend against fellow title-contenders Caboolture FC, who will have the home ground advantage at the Moreton Bay Sports Complex.

Caboolture are now the only unbeaten side in the FQPL 2, and are even on points at the top of the ladder with Taringa with a game in hand.

In a sign of Caboolture’s lethal attacking quality, the Snakes have beaten their opponents by four goals in three out of four games this season.

It should be a fascinating tussle between Taringa sharpshooter Sean Karambasis, who is the best striker in the league, and Caboolture talisman Cameron Crestani, who is one of the best defensive players in the state.

Match details:
Saturday 8 May, 5:15pm
Moreton Bay Sports Complex, Burpengary

Key players:

Frederick Yinka-Kehinde (Rochedale Rovers): The journeyman Nigerian striker scored two goals in his first appearance last week for the Rovers after joining the club from Olympic FC.

Yuta Hirayama (Brisbane City): The 2020 FQPL Golden Boot winner has picked up from where he left off last season, bagging seven goals in six FQPL and FFA Cup games for City.

Ben Rosengren (Grange Thistle): Used off the bench this season for Grange Thistle, last weekend the super-sub popped up in the 85th minute to score the winning goal against Taringa Rovers.

Dylan Proctor (Virginia United): The youngster scored four goals last weekend as Virginia United put six past Coomera Colts.

FQPL 1 Schedule:

Southside Eagles v Mitchelton FC
Friday 7 May, 8:30pm
Memorial Park, Bulimba

Holland Park Hawks v Brisbane City
Saturday 8 May, 6:30pm
Whites Hill Reserve, Camp Hill

Western Pride v Souths United
Saturday 8 May, 7:15pm
Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich

Sunshine Coast FC v SWQ Thunder
Sunday 9 May, 4:15pm
Kawana Sports Precinct, Bokarina

BYE – Wynnum Wolves

FQPL 2 Schedule:

Magic United v Grange Thistle
Sunday 9 May, 4:00pm
Birmingham Road, Cararra

North Star v Coomera Colts
Sunday 9 May, 4:15pm
O’Callaghan Park, Zillmere

Virginia United v Samford Rangers
Sunday 9 May, 5:00pm
Albert Bishop Park, Nundah

Image: Ant Sartori