NPL Round 20 Preview
The National Premier Leagues action is hotting up as the league title moves within reach and finals football looms large.
Stay up to date with all the exciting Round 20 fixtures in the weekly preview.
Redlands United (5th) v Northern Fury (7th)
Saturday, 3rd August 2013 – Cleveland Showgrounds, 6:00pm
Redlands United will seek a return to the NPL Queensland top four this Saturday night when they host fellow finals hopefuls Northern Fury at Cleveland Showgrounds.
The Devils fell outside of the finals places for the first time since the second round after falling 1-0 to Sunshine Coast Fire last weekend. In addition to the dropped points, the result marked the fourth straight match the usually resilient Redlands failed to keep a clean sheet.
Meanwhile, Fury’s finals chances remain balanced on a knife’s edge – head coach Gareth Edds well aware a loss will spell the end of his side’s hopes of September football.
Edds will be buoyed by his side’s response to a similar situation last week as Fury dismantled league leaders Olympic 6-3 in Townsville to continue their finals push.
Recent history also favours Fury after they prevailed 4-2 in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season – forward Alex Read scoring a double on that occasion.
Brisbane City (2nd) v Sunshine Coast Fire (3rd)
Saturday, 3rd August 2013 – Spencer Park, 6:00pm
NPL Queensland high-flyers Brisbane City and Sunshine Coast Fire face off this Saturday night at Spencer Park as both sides look ahead to September’s finals series.
A win for either side will guarantee a top four finish, however a loss could return them to a pack of finals contenders challenging for fourth place.
Recent form has been impressive for both sides – Fire keeping clean sheets to win seven of their past nine outings, while City have lost only once since March and notched up seven clean sheets of their own.
Both sides also come off wins last weekend – City edging Palm Beach Sharks 2-0 at Mallawa Complex and Fire holding out Redlands 1-0 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
However, City hold the form in this fixture after they pipped Fire 1-0 in a tight contest earlier in the season courtesy of a late goal to star striker Antonio Murray.
Brisbane Strikers (4th) v Palm beach Sharks (9th)
Saturday, 3rd August 2013 – Perry Park, 7:00pm
Brisbane Strikers are looking to keep their hold on NPL Queensland’s fourth and final playoff position when they host Palm Beach Sharks at Perry Park on Saturday night.
Strikers returned to the top four last week following a solid 2-0 performance against Queensland Academy of Sport – Strikers fourth straight return of three points as they mount a late season surge.
Palm Beach were unfortunate to fall 2-0 at home to Brisbane City last Saturday – head coach Grae Piddick lamenting his side’s lack of fortune in front of goal as they recorded their fourth straight defeat.
As such, Sharks will gladly welcome back Alex Panic for the match-up, the exciting midfield talent scoring twice for Sharks when they upset Strikers 3-2 at Mallawa Complex earlier in the season.
CQFC Energy (11th) v Western Pride (9th)
Saturday, 3rd August 2013 – Rugby Park, 7:00pm
CQFC Energy are looking to avoid the NPL wooden spoon as they commence a three home match run to close the club’s inaugural season starting with Saturday night's fixture with Western Pride at Rugby Park.
It has been an underwhelming year for Energy - who recorded their 16th loss of the season last weekend against Moreton Bay Jets, concededing their 100th goal in the process - and the Rockhampton-based club will seek to repay supporters with a strong home showing against lower table opponents to close the season.
The ninth-placed Pride’s recent form, however, belies their position on the competition table; with the Ipswich-based club recently recording upset wins over Redlands and City before earning a whard-fought 2-2 draw in Mareeba last weekend.
Pride Head coach Kasey Wehrman will be looking to replicate their 6-2 win over CQFC earlier in the season that saw Peter Drager score a hat-trick to compliment strike partner Russell Woodruffe’s brace.
FNQ FC Heat (10th) v Queensland Academy of Sport (12th)
Saturday, 3rd August 2013 – Barlow Park, 7:30pm
Queensland Academy of Sport are looking to avoid the inaugural NPL Queensland wooden spoon this Saturday night when they travel to Cairns to face FNQ FC Heat at Barlow Park.
Academy continue to prop up the table after suffering their eighth straight defeat last round at the hands of Brisbane Strikers; however, a win can lift Josh McCloughan’s side above fellow strugglers CQFC and the notoriously competitive Academy mentor will be eager to avoid finishing last.
For FNQ FC the match provides a welcome home-coming after the side played their previous two home fixtures in Mareeba, earning only a single point from the sojourn after last week’s come from behind draw with Western Pride
Heat will be boosted by their 3-2 win in the same fixture earlier this year and Academy will need to close down the known threat of Heat forward Jamie Carroll, who netted a hat-trick in the June win.
Olympic FC (1st) v Moreton Bay Jets (6th)
Sunday, 4th August 2013 – Goodwin Park, 3:00pm
League leaders Olympic FC hope to secure the NPL Queensland premiership this Sunday afternoon when they host Moreton Bay Jets at Goodwin Park.
Olympic, who have lost only twice all year, remain the competition’s form side despite a shock 6-3 loss to Northern Fury last weekend as the end-of-season pressure told on the runaway league leaders.
However, a large turnout of parochial Olympic supporters is expected this weekend as the Yeronga-based club looks to secure the first state-wide silverware in their history.
Looking to spoil the party are Jets, who are lurking in sixth position on the table and remain in the hunt for finals football following a 5-4 win over CQFC Energy last round.
Striker Royce Brownlie bounced back to goalscoring form for the Jets in the win, the former A-League player netting a brace for his first return in front of goal in five weeks.
Jets will need to close down Olympic captain Danny Byrne if they are to stay in the running for a top four finish – the attacking midfielder scoring twice in a 3-1 result between these teams earlier in the campaign.
Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
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