The National Premier Leagues action continues right across the Sunshine State this weekend.

Stay up to date with the Round 4 preview.

Olympic FC (1st) v Palm Beach Sharks FC (7th)
Friday, 5th April 2013 – Goodwin Park, 8:30pm

Palm Beach travel up the M1 for the third time this season when they kick-off the fourth round of NPL fixtures against league-leaders Olympic FC on Friday night.

Sharks head coach Oscar Langone described the mood in his squad as positive after the side secured their first three points against QAS before the Easter break. However, Langone also admits his team will receive a better indication of their progress against a free-scoring Olympic outfit in stunning form.

For his part, Olympic head coach Jim Bellas claimed his side’s impressive early season results are borne of hard work and dedication, and that the matches were more evenly contested than scores have suggested.

In an interesting twist to the fixture, former Olympic forward Alex Panic is due to make his first appearance for Sharks on Friday night.

Panic scored for Olympic in their last round win over Strikers and departs with the blessing of his former club, who have also strengthened their squad over the Easter break with the addition of CarlTabulo from Brisbane Premier League club Rochedale Rovers.

Brisbane Strikers FC (5th) v FNQ FC Heat (10th)
Saturday, 6th April 2013 – Cleveland Showgrounds, 5:00pm

The first match of the Saturday’s bayside double-header features two sides that should welcome the neutral setting after both conceding seven goals at home in the previous round.

Strikers succumbed to a rampant Olympic side 7-2 at Perry Park, while Heat fell victim to the equally rambunctious Brisbane City 7-0 in Cairns.

Strikers head coach David Large stated his team will return to basics as he seeks to return to the playing style that saw his side claim the maximum points from their first two fixtures.

FNQ FC Heat head coach Martin Docherty admitted he views the game as a chance for both the club’s players and coaching staff to redeem themselves following a poor showing against City last round.

While Docherty admitted he may tinker with his starting eleven, he will continue to show faith in his locally-comprised squad.

Redlands United FC (4th) v Moreton Bay United FC Jets (2nd)
Saturday, 6th April 2013 – Cleveland Showgrounds, 7:30pm

Undefeated Moreton Bay United are hoping to continue their impressive start to the season when they travel to the southern tip of the bay to face Redlands United in the feature match of Saturday’s double header.

Jets coach Terry Kirkham believes his side’s positive results can be attributed to the recently formed club’s desire to prove itself against more established clubs – claiming his team view themselves as “underdogs” every week.

Matt Chandler, head coach of Redlands, agreed that after slotting eleven goals against CQFC Energy in the previous round, his side were right to be considered favourites for the clash, but he said Jets could no longer fly under the radar.

Chandler also suggested home advantage could prove decisive in the first instalment of this burgeoning bayside rivalry.

Sunshine Coast FC Fire (3rd) v Queensland Academy of Sport (11th)
Sunday, 6th April 2013 – Sunshine Coast Stadium, 2:00pm

Sunshine Coast has claimed maximum points from their two away games so far this campaign, and will be hoping to bring their away form back to their home ground against QAS in Sunday’s early kick-off.

Fire head coach Kevin Aherne-Evans acknowledged the Academy offers a markedly different threat to his previous opponents, and remains eager to see how his squad perform against the fleet-footed youngsters.

Aherne-Evans has also strengthened his forward line for the clash adding Japanese import Tahara as well as welcoming 2011 squad member Jason Hicks back to the Fire fold.

Academy coach Josh McCloughan returns to manage his young charges after travelling to Japan with the Sanix Cup squad, bringing four members of the senior QAS squad back with him.

Having seen video of the match, McCloughan was unflinching in his assessment that the Academy performed poorly last round in his absence against Palm Beach; subsequently stated he has worked his young charges hard in training and expects a much improved performance this weekend.

Brisbane City FC (8th) v CQFC Energy (12th)
Sunday, 7th April 2013 – Spencer Park, 3:00pm

Both sides started the year sluggishly due to disrupted preseasons. However, City found their stride prior to the Easter break with a 7-0 win in Cairns, while Energy’s woes continued when they crashed to an 11-2 defeat at Redlands United.

CQFC coach Joe Fenech remains committed to developing his young squad over the course of the season and attributes the vast majority of goals his side has conceded to inexperience and “schoolboy errors”.

In a promising sign for City coach Glen Volker, CQFC will field another youthful back four on Sunday – the oldest player in the defensive line a mere 20 years of age.

City continued their recent form with a comprehensive friendly win against feeder club The Gap during the break. However, Volker is keen to distinguish between performance and results, insisting his side can still improve and will be wary of complacency against the bottom of the table Energy.

Northern Fury FC (9th) v Western Pride FC (6th)
Sunday, 7th April 2013 – Townsville Sports Reserve, 3:00pm

Northern Fury return to Townsville for their first competitive home game in over two years on Sunday when they host Ipswich’s Western Pride on Sunday in the feel-good fixture of the round.

Furry head coach Gareth Edds, who played for the club in the A-League, admitted it would be an emotional homecoming and that his side were keen to repay the support shown by the local community.

Edds also said he was “very happy” with the start to the season despite mixed results in Fury’s opening three games – all contested on the road – and looks forward to the return of several injured players in coming weeks.

Kasey Wehrman’s side are also coming off the back of mixed results, with promising performances in the opening two games negated by a disappointing 4-0 home loss to Sunshine Coast last round.

Wehrman believes his side will be better for the experience, although conceded the club’s first long-distance away game may prove another learning curve for some members of his squad.

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)