The National Premier Leagues action continues this weekend with Round 16 featuring another set of exciting match-ups right across Queensland.

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

Brisbane City (3^rd) v Moreton Bay Jets (6^th)
Friday, July 5^th 2013 – Spencer Park, 7:30pm
Referee: David Weibe

Brisbane City look to extend their undefeated streak to 13 games on Friday night when they face fellow finals contenders Moreton Bay Jets at Spencer Park.

City received a scare last week in Rockhampton with CQFC Energy leading the contest for an hour before two second half goals from Antonio Murray spared City’s blushes.

Jets took a hard-earned half-time lead in their match-up against Redlands last round, but conceded four second-half goals to eventually be humbled 4-1 by the quick passing Devils.

Terry Kirkham’s Jets side face a similar challenge this week from Glen Volker’s never-say-die City outfit, with Moreton Bay eager to avoid a repeat of their 3-1 defeat to City a month ago – Jets conceding three goals in five minutes on that occasion after taking an early lead.

A win for City will keep the pressure on league leaders Olympic, while three points for Jets will keep them in the hunt for a top four finish and finals football.

Queensland Academy of Sport (12^th) v Northern Fury (7^th)
Saturday, July 6^th 2013 – Perry Park, 4:30pm
Referee: Alex King

Northern Fury are aiming for their second straight win in the state’s south-east corner when they meet Queensland Academy of Sport at Perry Park in the opening match of Saturday’s NPL double-header.

Fury have struggled on the road this season, however an impressive 2-0 result against Western Pride in Ipswich last week has given Gareth Edd’s side cause for optimism and revived their finals ambitions.

A repeat of Fury’s 6-1 win against QAS earlier this season seems unlikely, with Josh McCloughan’s QAS side proving increasingly resilient in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sunshine Coast Fire last round.

Historic Perry Park was also the site Academy’s only win this season – a 2-1 triumph over Strikers in Round 9. However, Fury will be buoyed by their opposition’s lacklustre defensive record, with Academy yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Redlands United (2^nd) v Western Pride (9^th)
Saturday, July 6^th 2013 – Cleveland Showgrounds, 6:00pm
Referee: Alan Milliner

Ipswich’s Western Pride travel to the bayside Saturday evening as they seek to put a dent in Redlands United’s title ambitions at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Redlands have won their past four matches, and scored three or more goals in their past six outings, to lift Matt Chandler’s attack-minded side to second place on the NPL table.

Meanwhile, Pride have prevailed in only one of their past five matches and head coach Kasey Wehrman will be seeking a positive return from their remaining fixtures after a 2-0 defeat to Northern Fury put paid to their finals ambitions last weekend.

Redlands romped home 4-1 when the sides met earlier this year courtesy of a double to Jheison Macauce and contributions from Graham Fyfe and Ramone Close, and Pride will look to shut down the Devil’s attacking triumvirate if they are to turn the tables in the rematch.

Brisbane Strikers (5^th) v CQFC Energy (11^th)
Saturday, July 6^th 2013 – Perry Park, 7:00pm
Referee: Jason Crow

CQFC Energy are hoping to spring the upset of the season when they venture to Perry Park to face Brisbane Strikers in the main game of Saturday’s double-header.

The Energy have been easy beats for much of the season, however mid-season coaching appointment Ray Wood has steeled his side’s resolve and is optimistic his side can spring a surprise after impressing in a 2-1 defeat against Brisbane City last week.

Strikers may prove susceptible, with David Large’s squad blowing hot and cold all season. Last week’s impressive 4-0 win against FNQ FC Heat in Cairns coming after a humbling 6-2 defeat at the hands of league leaders Olympic the week before.

The capital city club prevailed 4-3 in a see-sawing encounter last time these sides met and, with Strikers looking to sure up their finals position against an Energy outfit determined to turn around a disappointing campaign, another unpredictable and high scoring contest seems likely.

Sunshine Coast Fire (4^th) v Palm Beach Sharks (8^th)
Sunday, July 7^th 2013 – Sunshine Coast Stadium, 2:00pm
Referee: Jarred Gillett

Gold Coast meets Sunshine Coast this Sunday afternoon when Palm Beach Sharks head north to face the high-flying Fire in the NPL coastal derby at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The Fire regained their top four spot in recent weeks following back to back wins against QAS and Western Pride and Kevin Aherne-Evans’ side will be looking for another three points as they seek to stay ahead of rivals Brisbane Strikers in the fight for fourth place.

Meanwhile, Palm Beach will be looking to keep their faint finals hopes alive after falling 6-0 to Olympic FC last round. Sharks conceded twice in the opening ten minute of that match and head coach Grae Piddock will be looking to avoid a similar poor start this week.

Fire prevailed 3-1 when these teams last met at Mallawa Drive in April, and both sides will be eager to extract the maximum three points in a quest for bragging rights in one of the NPL more intriguing rivalries.

Olympic FC (1^st) v FNQ FC Heat (10^th)
Sunday, July 7^th 2013 – Goodwin Park, 3:00pm
Referee: Matt Skinner

Olympic FC will look to put a week of unexpected turmoil behind them when they host Cairn’s FNQ FC Heat at Goodwin Park on Sunday afternoon.

With only one loss this season, Olympic were considered strong favourites to finish the NPL regular season in first place, however the suspension of three first team regulars earlier this week for breaches of the National Code of Conduct has thrown a spanner in the workings of Jim Bellas’ team.

Olympic’s defence will be tested by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Mario Aparicio, central defender Nick Efstathis and midfielder Jack Petrie, and FNQ pacey attacking threat Jamie Carroll will look to run amok through the reconfigured backline.

Heat will fancy their chances of holding the league-leaders as they did earlier this season in a 1-1 draw in Cairns. However, the visitors will need to find a way to contain prolific Olympic Striker Tim Smits, who has netted consecutive hat-tricks in the host’s back-to-back six goal hauls against Brisbane Strikers and Palm Beach Sharks.

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)