Words: Matt Dorman
Image: FNQ FC Heat

PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland enters the final month of the regular season with Moreton Bay United to host FNQ Heat in Round 19’s live-stream match.

Redlands United FC v South West Queensland Thunder FC
Saturday, 1 August / Cleveland Showgrounds / 6:00PM

SWQ Thunder will hope recent history doesn’t repeat itself against Redlands United on Saturday night.

The Toowoomba team suffered a 6-0 defeat when these two sides met in a rescheduled fixture just two weeks ago with Graham Fyfe and Lyndon Dykes grabbing two each.

Where Thunder only marginally improved in losing 5-1 to Palm Beach SC the following week, Redlands rolled on to a sixth straight win away to Sunshine Coast.

The Red Devils will need to maintain their standards as a date with fifth-placed FNQ Heat in a fortnight means finals football is not yet sewn up.

Moreton Bay United FC v FNQ FC Heat
Saturday, 1 August / Wolter Park / 6:00PM

If Moreton Bay’s unbeaten home record is to come to a conclusion it could well be at the hands of FNQ Heat.

An unbeaten July in which they conceded only once has the Cairns outfit primed for a tilt at the top four.

Finishing amongst the finals places for a second season running won’t be easy as three top four teams and the reigning champions are all still to come.

That run begins against Jets, who will be determined to bounce back to first place following last week’s loss away to Brisbane Roar – just their second of 2015.

Northern Fury FC v Brisbane Strikers FC
Saturday, 1 August / Townsville Sports Reserve / 7:00PM

Brisbane Strikers will be concentrating all energies on retaining top spot after the heartbreak of being knocked out of the Westfield FFA Cup in midweek.

Back on the road just three nights after a 120-minute effort in Melbourne, the league-leaders must reach deep into their reserves to tackle Northern Fury in Townsville.

Young attacker Sean Karambasis almost led Fury to a point away to Brisbane City last week before Ian Ferguson’s side were ultimately undone 3-2.

While they seemed destined to finish in mid-table, Saturday night’s visit of Strikers presents the chance to make a statement for the future.

Sunshine Coast FC v Western Pride FC
Sunday, 2 August / Sunshine Coast Stadium / 2:00PM

Another pair meeting for the second time in quick succession sees Sunshine Coast setting out to turn around the 3-0 loss they suffered to Western Pride two weeks ago.

Fire followed that result with a 1-0 home defeat to the in-form Redlands United, extending their winless run to 10 matches.

Ending that tough trot will require a close watch on Pride striker Harrison Sawyer, who netted a double in the last meeting to improve his season tally to a team-high seven goals.

The 18-year-old will hope to lead his team to a third win in five.

Olympic FC v Brisbane Roar FC Youth
Sunday, 2 August / Goodwin Park / 4:00PM

Plenty of sub-plots will be woven throughout the round’s penultimate match.

While Olympic have had nearly two weeks to mull over their last-start 1-0 loss to Brisbane Strikers, Young Roar enter the bout fresh from their upset win over Moreton Bay.

The hosts will also be seeking revenge for the 4-1 shock they received against the same opponents in April and require a sustained income of points to lock up a finals place.

Young Roar are excluded from that reckoning under their competition agreement but have already begun to frustrate finals hopefuls.

Palm Beach SC v Brisbane City FC
Sunday, 2 August / Mallawa Complex / 5:00PM

Wednesday’s Westfield FFA Cup win may just provide the wave Palm Beach SC can ride into the post-season.

A pair of convincing league wins preceded Sharks’ midweek triumph over South Melbourne and kept the Gold Coast club in top four contention.

An almost perfect run-in will be needed to have a chance at defending their Grand Final trophy, beginning against an upbeat Brisbane City.

City put three past Northern Fury last weekend for the fifth win of the year and will look to exploit the absence of Eoghan Murphy, who impressed for Sharks in the Cup before being dismissed late.