Words: Michael Flynn & Matt Dorman
Image: Brian Monro/Sport-In-Digital

The PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland top three maintained their momentum on the weekend as the season approached the halfway point.

Redlands United FC 0
Brisbane Roar FC Youth 0

Redlands United and Brisbane Roar Youth fought out the first 0-0 draw of the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland season at Cleveland Showgrounds on Friday night.

The visitors were unable to capitalise on their monopoly of possession in a result that does little to alter the ladder positions of either side.

Red Devils midfielder Zach Graveson praised his teammates’ collective effort to deny the visitors.

“We knew if we kept our discipline in defence we would frustrate them. I thought we did that tonight and I think the scoreline shows that,” Graveson said.

Full match report and post-match interviews - http://bit.ly/1K8VmW3

Palm Beach SC  3 (Nik MIRCOVIC 24’, Justyn MCKAY 56’, Ethan GRIMLEY 91+3’)
FNQ FC Heat  1 (Shimon WATANABE 77’)

Palm Beach SC put an end to their two-match losing streak on Saturday, defeating FNQ Heat 3-1 at Mallawa Complex.

Nik Mirkovic gave the hosts a single goal advantage at half-time before Justyn McKay and Ethan Grimley secured the points in the second half.

The win was Sharks’ first since April and sees the defending PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Premiers move ahead of Heat in the league.

Full match report and post-match interviews - http://bit.ly/1em7Jnw

SWQ Thunder FC  1 (Jackson FRANKE 86’
Brisbane City FC  3 (Antonio Murray 77’ 88’, YOUNG Jae Joo 81’)

A brace from Antonio Murray has guided City to a 3-1 win over SWQ Thunder at Commonwealth Oval on Saturday.

All the goals came in the final quarter hour as City surged home to record their second straight PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland win against the understrength Thunder.

Murray’s double marks the fifth straight match the league’s 2013 Golden  Boot winner has been on the scoresheet and lifts his current season’s tally to six.

City coach Darron Heseldon said his team were now on a roll following a slow start to the season.

“Our fitness has been one of the key points I think since I’ve gotten hold of the boys and we’ve run over the top of most teams since we got their fitness levels up,” he said.

Full match report and post-match interviews - http://bit.ly/1HowbMb

Brisbane Strikers FC  4 (Trent CLULOW 2’ 11’, Jheison MACAUCE 20’, Joshua MCVEY 88’)
Sunshine Coast FC  0

Brisbane Strikers rolled traditional rivals Sunshine Coast FC 4-0 at Perry Park on Saturday, recording a third straight league win to retain second place on the table.

Trent Clulow struck twice inside the opening quarter hour for the hosts before Jheison Macauce extended the advantage prior to half-time.

Joshua McVey then iced the result in the final minutes to help Strikers consign their former Queensland State League nemesis to a second straight defeat.

Fire player-coach Paul Arnison admitted his side were effectively out of the contest after conceding three early goals.

“To concede a goal in the first ninety seconds was disappointing from us. The first three goals we could defend better,” he conceded.

Full match report and post-match interviews - http://bit.ly/1EphRB0

Western Pride FC  2 (Todd NORRIS 9’, Peter DRAGER 87’)
Olympic FC  5 (Tim SMITS 23’ 44’ 65’, Kazuya ITO 79’, Danny BYRNE 81’)

A hat-trick from Tim Smits kept Olympic FC in touch with the league leaders following a 5-2 win over Western Pride at Briggs Road Complex on Saturday.

Pride opened the scoring early before Smits, Kazuya Ito and Danny Byrne delivered the next five goals to consign Pride to a third straight defeat.

Olympic coach Jim Bellas said Smits haul was just reward for his attacking ace after a lean return in recent matches.

“Timmy has been working hard at training the whole all year and tonight it's paid off for him - he’s worked hard and is always in the right areas,” he said.

Full match report and post-match interviews - http://bit.ly/1Q2YrbL

Northern Fury FC  2 (Jonathon BAGLEY 73, Sean KARAMBASIS 74’)
Moreton Bay United FC  3 (Stephen GREEN 21’, own goal 69’, Royce BROWNLIE 83’)

Moreton Bay United scored late to see off a second-half fightback from Northern Fury 3-2 at Brolga Park on Saturday night.

New recruit Stephen Green gave Jets a single goal advantage at half-time before an own goal doubled the advantage after the hour.

Fury fought back through late goals to Jonathon Bagley and Sean Karambasis, however all-time leading PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland goal scorer Royce Brownlie sealed the result for Jets with a goal in the final ten minutes.

Full match report - http://bit.ly/1F2wTwZ