NPL Round 15 Preview
The National Premier Leagues action continues this weekend with Round 15 featuring another set of exciting match-ups right across Queensland.
Stay up to date with all the weekend’s fixtures in the weekly preview.
Queensland Academy of Sport (12th) v Sunshine Coast Fire (4th)
Saturday, 29th June 2013 – Eric Evans Reserve, 2:00pm
QAS and Sunshine Coast Fire will face-off on neutral ground on Saturday afternoon when they meet in the first match of the Ipswich double-header at Eric Evans Reserve.
The Academy youngsters have struggled for results this year against more seasoned opponents, however Josh McCloughan’s side continues to improve week-on-week and remain more than capable of affecting the NPL finals make-up with an upset against their more fancied rivals.
Sunshine Coast are sitting just inside the NPL top four following an erratic run of results in recent rounds – the Fire winning three and losing three of their past six matches as they struggle to find consistency in the front third of the pitch.
The Fire prevailed 1-0 in the last meeting between these two sides, however a high-scoring affair is anticipated with Fire netting four on their last visit to Ipswich and QAS yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Palm Beach Sharks (7th) v Olympic FC (1st)
Saturday, 29th June 2013 – Mallawa Complex, 5:30pm
Palm Beach Sharks will have their finals ambitions put to the test this Saturday when they host league leaders Olympic FC at Mallawa Complex on the Gold Coast.
The Sharks have undergone a resurgence since Grae Piddock took the reins of the first team mid-season, winning five of their past six to surge to seventh on the table and nine points shy of the top four with a game still in hand.
Meanwhile, Olympic continue to sweep all before them after destroying Brisbane Strikers 6-2 at home last round, Tim Smits netting his third hat-trick of the season to maintain his side’s three month stint atop the NPL table.
Sharks fell 3-1 the last time these sides met at Goodwin Park in April and the hosts, who have kept only two clean sheets this season, will be well aware of the need to tighten up defensively against Olympic’s multi-pronged attack if they are to avoid a repeat dose.
Western Pride (9th) v Northern Fury (8th)
Saturday, 29th June 2013 – Eric Evans Reserve, 6:00pm
The main game of Saturday’s Ipswich double header sees Western Pride welcome Northern Fury to Eric Evans Reserve for a what promises to be a hard fought mid table contest of contrasting styles.
Western Pride’s workmanlike performances have seen them concede less goals than any other side in the bottom half of the table, however Kasey Wehrman’s side have only troubled the scorers once in their past four outings and will be looking to frontmen Peter Drager and Russell Woodruffe to recapture their goal-scoring spark.
Fury have scored in their past three outings, however defensive frailties saw them split the points on all three occasions to put a serious dent in the Townsville club’s now fading finals hopes.
While Fury humbled Pride 3-0 in their previous meeting this season, the notoriously poor travellers will need to step up if they are to earn their first points this season in the south-east corner of the state.
CQFC Energy (11th) v Brisbane City (2nd)
Saturday, 29th June 2013 – Jardine Park, 7:00pm
Brisbane City travel to Rockhampton this Saturday as they seek to get their title tilt back on track against strugglers CQFC Energy at Jardine Park.
City were uncharacteristically lacklustre against lower table club FNQ FC Heat last weekend, only truly coming to life in a frantic final ten minute burst in the 1-1 draw at Spencer Park.
The result however continued the City’s run of 11 matches without defeat and they will be buoyed by the return of star striker Antonio Murray for the clash and restoring his fearsome combination with Eric Frazier, who has scored seven goals in his past five appearances.
Meanwhile, CQFC’s recent resurgence was emphatically quashed at home by a rampant Redlands United outfit last weekend - the 5-0 thrashing continuing a disappointing season for the Rockhampton football fraternity.
City will be hoping to inflict the same damage on their opponents this week as they did at home in Round 4 to keep the pressure on league leaders Olympic FC, the capital city club putting eight goals past Energy on that occasion.
FNQ FC Heat (10th) v Brisbane Strikers (5th)
Saturday, 29th June 2013 – Endeavour Park, 7:30pm
Brisbane Strikers are looking to get their finals campaign back on track this Saturday when they travel to Cairns to face FNQ FC Heat at Endeavour Park.
The Strikers dropped outside the top four last round after being torn apart by league leader Olympic FC, Strikers conceding six goals in a woeful first half display before restoring some credibility with two goals in the second stanza.
Conversely, FNQ turned in a spirited performance against City, earning a 1-1 draw against one of the league’s form teams – a result Joe Fenech’s side will look to build upon as they seek their first win in Cairns since the opening round derby triumph over Northern Fury.
Strikers found form against FNQ earlier this season with a comprehensive 5-1 win at Cleveland Showgrounds and coach David Large will be looking for nothing less than three points against the NPL most northern team this time round.
Moreton Bay United Jets (6th) v Redlands United (3rd)
Saturday, 29th June 2013 – Wolter Park, 7:30pm
Finals aspirants Moreton Bay Jets and Redlands United will face off Saturday night at Wolter Park as both sides look to continue their recent run of form.
Both sides haven’t tasted defeat since they last met competition leaders Olympic FC – Moreton Bay United winning three and drawing two of their past five matches, while Redlands have three wins and a draw from their past four.
That’s where the similarities end though, with Redlands employing a quick and short passing style to score three or more goals in their past five outings, while Moreton Bay’s preference for a more physical game plan has seen them keep three clean sheets in the same period.
The last time these sides met Redlands prevailed 3-1, but Jets will be looking to impose their home ground advantage on the Devils this time around in their pursuit of a top four position.
Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
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