Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Ray Gardner/Redlands United FC

Olympic FC edged into top spot in the league after the latest round of PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland matches.

Olympic FC  3 (Danny BYRNE 22’p, Rhys MEREDITH 36’, Sam CRONIN 51’)
Brisbane Strikers FC  1 (Trent CLULOW 39’)

Olympic FC surged into top spot on the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland table on Friday night after recording a comprehensive 3-1 win over Brisbane Strikers at Goodwin Park.

Danny Byrne and Rhys Meredith struck first half goals for the host before Sam Cronin iced the performance shortly after the restart.

The result marks Olympic’s fourth straight PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland win, whilst also handing Strikers their first defeat of the 2015 campaign.

Speaking post-match, Byrne suggested there was still room for improvement from Olympic in coming rounds despite their recent form.

“I wouldn’t say it’s our best performance but obviously we’ve gone four from four and we are picking up momentum along the way with what we would call an average start (to the season),” he said.

Full match report - http://bit.ly/1GoVdMY

Redlands United FC  2 (Mitchell BIRD 79’, Elliot RONTO 82’)
Sunshine Coast FC  3 (Brady CRONK 21’, Takumi KINOSHITA 27’, Kenya TAKAHASHI 59’)

Sunshine Coast FC held off a spirited fightback from Redlands United to prevail 3-2 at Cleveland Showgrounds on Saturday.

The Red Devils struck twice late in the second half but it was not enough to reel back earlier goals from Brady Cronk, Takumi Kinoshita and Kenya Takahashi as Fire recorded their third straight PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland win.

Redlands Technical Director Matt Chandler said a slow start cost his side but added that a draw would’ve been a fair result.

“Second half I did feel we were going to come back and draw the game and I thought we probably deserved to,” he said.

Full match report - http://bit.ly/1zXV4eQ

SWQ Thunder FC  0
Palm Beach SC  3 (Justyn MCKAY  52’, Florian Matk 71’, Ethan GRIMLEY 90+2’)

Palm Beach SC scored three second half goals as they returned to winning ways with a dominant 3-0 win over SWQ Thunder at West Wanderers Football Club on Saturday.

Sharks dominated the contest throughout, securing the win on the back of goals to Justyn McKay, Florian Matk and Ethan Grimley to consign Thunder to a fourth straight PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland defeat.

Thunder coach Chris Wilkes said his side had regained some respect in their performance, despite still searching for their first PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland win of 2015.

“I think most people understand that any of these games we’re going to be up against it. But you got to give credit to the guys - they get stuck in and they give it their all,” he said.

Full match report - http://bit.ly/1b0sZwU

Northern Fury FC  3 (Samuel HERLIHY 17’, Jake PERRY 20’, Sean KARAMBASIS 85’) 
Brisbane City FC  1 (Antonio MURRAY 86’)

Northern Fury recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season after comfortably seeing off Brisbane City 3-1 at Townsville Sports Reserve on Saturday.

The hosts took a two-goal lead into half time courtesy of Samuel Herlihy and Jake Perry before Sean Karambasis delivered the final blow late in the match to extend City’s winless start to the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland season to seven games.

Fury coach Ian Ferguson praised his team’s first half performance but lamented his side’s lack of killer instinct in the second stanza.

“I thought we had total domination where we were two-nil up and comfortable, but then we go to the second half and for some reason we stop playing,” he explained.

Full match report - http://bit.ly/1HCkQNB

FNQ FC Heat  2 (Jamie CARROLL 40’, Crios O’HARE 68’)
Western Pride FC  2 (Jay KITCHING 80’, Lincoln RULE 88’p)

Western Pride held their spot in the top four on Saturday night after fighting from two goals down to draw 2-2 with a nine-man FNQ Heat at Endeavour Park.

Heat scored either side of half-time courtesy of Jamie Carroll and Crios O’Hare before Pride stormed home on the back of late goals to Jay Kitching and Lincoln Rule.

Speaking post-match, Heat captain Tamas Maffey-Stumpe said it was disappointing to let their two goal lead slip late in the match.

“A few decisions went against us and we made a few mistakes, we didn’t bury the opportunities that we had and as a result we are leaving here without a win and we’re disappointed,” he said.

Full match report - http://bit.ly/1I8RRjl