The National Premier Leagues action continues this weekend with Round 8 featuring another set of exciting match-ups across the length of the Sunshine State.

Stay up to date with all the fixtures in the weekly preview.

Brisbane Strikers FC (3^rd) v Queensland Academy of Sport (12^th)
Friday, 3^rd May 2013 – Perry Park, 7:30pm

Brisbane Strikers will face a test of their attacking depth on Friday night when they take the field against Queensland Academy of Sport without star striker and last year’s QSL golden boot Matt Thurtell.

The prolific goal scorer has been ruled out for the rest of the NPL season after suffering a knee injury during last round’s comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Western Pride in Ipswich.

QAS graduate Josh Taylor will replace Thurtell up front for Strikers against his old side, and will be eager to make the most of the opportunity having already impressed with two goals this season despite limited minutes.

Meanwhile, the forced change at the top of Strikers’ formation may be just the opportunity Josh McCloughan’s Academy side need to record their first win of the campaign.

Despite being mired at the bottom of the NPL table, recent performances from QAS have been encouraging – seeing the better of the first half against Brisbane City last weekend before fading out of the contest after being reduced to ten men midway through the second stanza.

The inability to convert their chances into goals however remains a concern for the Academy youngsters against a Strikers side that hasn’t conceded in their past two outings.

Redlands United FC (2^nd) v Sunshine Coast FC Fire (4^th)
Saturday, 4^th May 2013 – Cleveland Showgrounds, 6:00pm

Redlands United and Sunshine Coast Fire put their respective claims as title-contenders to the test on Saturday night when the two in-form teams meet at Cleveland Showgrounds in a mouth-watering top four showdown.

Redlands haven’t dropped a point since their opening round defeat at the hands of Brisbane Strikers, and Matt Chandler’s side has been in impressive form in front of goal– netting three or more times in their past five outings.

Conversely, Sunshine Coast Fire’s position on the table is the result of a stoic defensive line that has conceded a league-best eight goals in seven matches this season under the leadership of captain Greig Henslee.

After struggling to convert their chances earlier in the season, Fire are starting to find form in front of goal courtesy of important contributions from fan favourite Nico Bechar. Leon Dwyer has also rediscovered his scoring touch with a brace against Palm Beach last week.

Of further encouragement to Fire, Redlands were unable to keep a clean sheet throughout April; the Devils last keeping their opposition scoreless in their second round home win against FNQ FC Heat.

Olympic FC (1^st) v Northern Fury FC (6^th)
Saturday, 4^th May 2013 – Goodwin Park, 6:00pm

The undefeated Olympic FC welcomes Northern Fury to Goodwin Park on Saturday night in the feature game of Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues.

Jim Bellas’ Olympic outfit have swept all before them so far this season, with six wins and a draw from their opening seven fixtures, and, with 35 goals to their credit, boast the best attacking record in the league.

Olympic’s flair in front of goal was on display again last week when they tore apart CQFC Energy in Rockhampton to prevail 9-3, with league’s equal leading goal scorer Tim Smits striking his second hat-trick of the season to take his season tally to eleven.

Fury find themselves in the top half of the table on the back of an undefeated home record, however the Townsville-based side have taken only three of a possible twelve points on the road so far this season.

Last round, Fury pushed the Fire for the full ninety minutes on the Sunshine Coast, only ceding a share of the points in the final ten minutes in an entertaining 2-1 defeat.

Head coach Gareth Edds will be hoping they can build on that performance to exploit Olympic’s less than convincing defence, with Fury not lacking for goal-scoring options with Alex Read and Jake Navarro combining for nine goals so far this season.

CQFC Energy (11^th) v Moreton Bay United Jets FC (7^th)
Saturday, 4^th May 2013 – Rugby Park, 7:00pm

CQFC Energy will be looking to revive their season on Saturday night in Rockhampton when they welcome Moreton Bay Jets to Rugby Park in their third consecutive home game.

The Energy have battled a disrupted preseason and changes in the coaching ranks in the opening rounds, and seemingly turned the corner two weeks ago with a 4-1 defeat of FNQ FC Heat.

However, Energy returned to Earth with a humbling 9-3 defeat at the hands of Olympic FC last Saturday night, and will be hoping to get their campaign back on track against the out-of-form and out-of-luck Moreton Bay United.

Energy’s cause will be hindered by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Tim English, who will be replaced by Andrew Poyser in the starting line-up after being concussed in last week’s loss.

Meanwhile, Jets head coach Terry Kirkham will be hoping May brings better fortune to his side, who lost not only all their games in April but their entire forward line, including experienced poacher Royce Brownlie, to a string of injuries.

As such, Kirkham has signed former Whitsunday Miner Michael Zappone in addition to Jake Harvey from Brisbane Strikers Under-20s in a bid to restore some potency to his front third. Kirkham has also welcomed goalkeeper Andrew Houghton in to the senior squad from local club Peninsula Power.

Brisbane City FC (5^th) v Palm Beach Sharks FC (9^th)
Sunday, 5^th May 2013 – Spencer Park, 4:00pm

Brisbane City are looking to make it six wins on the trot on Sunday afternoon when they host the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach Sharks at Spencer Park.

Glen Volker’s City have flown under the radar since starting the season with back-to-back losses, however his team are lurking in fifth place on the table with a game still in hand and can push for a top four spot with a win this weekend.

Striker Antonio Murray continues to impress for the Newmarket-based club, scoring a brace against QAS last round to take his total haul to eleven, equal with Olympic’s Tim Smits atop the goalscorers chart.

Palm Beach Sharks are desperately searching for momentum after losing two home games in four days last week to find themselves in ninth position on the table.

Sharks head coach Oscar Langone has bemoaned a lack of luck in front of goal in the opening rounds, however the addition of former Sheffield Wednesday academy player Jarrod Kyle to the squad may be the catalyst needed – the Gold Coast raised 19 year old scoring a goal in each of his first two game for the club thus far.

Sharks scored three times in the final ten minutes against Redlands United in a 7-4 defeat last weekend in an indication that spirits remain high amongst the squad despite the dearth of recent results.

Western Pride FC (10^th) v FNQ FC Heat (8^th)
Sunday, 5^th May 2013 – Eric Evans Oval, 2:45pm

Western Pride will host their first senior fixture at Eric Evans Reserve this season when the Ipswich-based side welcome FNQ FC Heat on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides have been inconsistent so far this season, suggesting a see-sawing lower table contest.

Sitting in tenth place, Pride appeared to be turning the corner with a series of narrow defeats in recent rounds; however last weekend’s frustrating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brisbane Strikers reflected poorly on the side’s progress.

Despite the scoreline, Pride player-coach Kasey Wehrman – who will not be on the bench this weekend after receiving a red card in the defeat – spoke glowingly of his side’s spirit and expects his charges to claim all three points this weekend.

FNQ FC Heat will be seeking to string together back-to-back wins for the first time this season after impressing with a 3-2 victory against Moreton Bay United Jets at Wolter Park last weekend.

The win was the team’s first since the opening round of the season, and with the addition of former CQFC coach Joe Fenech to the FNQ brains trust, may be the catalyst for a form reversal for the Cairns-based side.

Impressive turns from brothers Tom and Matt Murphy last weekend were further indication that Heat are starting to find their feet in the NPL, as was the debut of young goalkeeper Anthony Zechinnati who effected several late saves to prevent Jets from snatching a share of the points.

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)