Words: Michael Flynn & Steve Pitman
Image: Steven Gibson Photography

Brisbane Strikers winger Trent Clulow believes his team will fight for the PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Premiership until the very last round.

Strikers will look to recapture top spot in the standings - which they sacrificed last week after a 5-2 loss to Northern Fury in Townsville - at Perry Park against Palm Beach SC on Sunday.

The two-time PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series qualifiers currently sit second behind Moreton Bay United on goal difference, with the Jets also holding a game in hand.

Clulow said he and his teammates were eager to return to winning ways this weekend against a Sharks outfit desperately seeking to remain in the hunt for post-season football.

“The game on the weekend was extremely disappointing,” Clulow said of the surprise defeat to Fury.

“I guess the whole team felt that they played a part in being a little bit below par and letting the team and the club down. However, you can see with the reactions of the players and the efforts at training that we really want to turn things around this weekend.”

He added that the clash against Sharks will be a chance to send a message to the rest of the league and the Strikers faithful.

“We’ve got the opportunity to really show the supporters that we are genuine title contenders, especially after last week’s two defeats, which is the first time all season that we’ve had two defeats on the trot,” he explained.

“So it’ll be a huge test of character for the boys to regroup and try to gain a little bit of momentum before the last couple of games of the season”.

However, Clulow acknowledged the task will be made more difficult after a season ending knee injury to leading goalscorer Jheison Macuace and a suspension for Sam Knight, who was red-carded against Fury.

“We’ve got it tough with Jheison’s injury and Sam Knight’s red card, but we still know we can do it and we still believe that our efforts and our squad have the capability to keep going on in a league that will still throw another twist or two before the season’s end.”

Clulow joined Strikers for the 2015 season after winning the Trophy Superstore Premier League title last season with Wolves FC.

He said he will apply the lessons learned in that title race as he seeks to win his first silverware in higher tier competition.

“The work rate and the effort often overshadowed the technical aspect of the game and, when it came to vital moments in the game at these stages of the season, it sort of worked out,” he explained.

“It was knowing your opposition, it was playing to your strengths and it was being clinical at critical times in the match.”

Fixture details:
Brisbane Strikers v Palm Beach SC
Perry Park, Brisbane
Sunday, August 9
Kick-off at 2:30PM