Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Paul Smith

A blockbuster start to PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues in Queensland saw plenty of goals and one headline grabbing result for a competition underdog.

Highlights - http://bit.ly/PS4NPLQLD2016video

 

Gold Coast City FC 1 (own goal 16')
Redlands United FC 2 (Kai HALLIDAY 26', Stephen GREEN 70')

Match Report - http://bit.ly/24u0iAj

A second half strike from off-season recruit Stephen Green delivered Redlands United the first three points of 2016 in a come-from-behind win over Gold Coast City.

Played in hot and windy conditions, the teams were locked at the half when Kai Halliday made amends for his earlier own goal with a solid headed effort.

Green missed a penalty midway through the second stanza but also made amends to seal the win.Local hopes of a Gold Coast fightback faded in the final ten minutes when defender Drew Jeskey was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Brisbane Roar FC Youth 1 (Jesse DALEY 50')
Brisbane Strikers FC 1 (Rhsy MEREDITH 54')

Match Report – http://bit.ly/21pmNaB

Opening day bragging rights were shared in the capital as Brisbane Roar Youth and Brisbane Strikers cancelled each other out in a hard fought draw.

Neither side found reward in the first half before two quick goals brought the crowd to their feet early in the second stanza.

The result extends Strikers unbeaten record against their Perry Park co-tennants to five matches in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

SWQ Thunder FC 2 (Majok PIOK 25’, Mustafa JAFARI 29’)
Northern Fury FC 1 (Charles SLANEY 85’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1n48d5t

SWQ Thunder finally got the monkey off their back by recording their first league win after out-classing Northern Fury.

Off-season recruits Mustafa Jafari and Majok Piok struck a goal apiece in quick time to set-up the historic moment – the win coming in the club’s 47^thleague match.

Fury found late consolation as substitute Charles Slaney delivered his first PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal, but the Toowomba club held firm to the delight of their much-deserving home crowd.

Western Pride FC 1 (Corey LUCAS 90+2’p)
Sunshine Coast FC 1 (Shoichi KISHIMIZU 5’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1QjP779

A ten-man Western Pride converted an injury time penalty to draw Sunshine Coast FC in a hard-fought opening round clash.

The Fire responded positively from a week of turmoil after the resignation of former coach Paul Arnison by taking the early lead.

The visitors seemed destined for the win when Pride lost Joel Haack to a straight red card early in the second half, however a late penalty enabled Corey Lucas to steal Pride a share of the points.

Brisbane City FC 1 (own goal 60’)
Moreton Bay United FC  3 (Joey MASUDA 25’, Royce BROWNLIE 76’, Alex JANOVSKY 84’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1TJMzS5

Defending Champions Moreton Bay United took just one match to return to the top of the table after recording a solid win over Brisbane City.

An early lighting failure disrupted a bright start from the Jets, however the quickly regained their momentum, with their three goal haul book-ended by off-season recruits Joey Masuda and Alex Janovsky.

City were kept in the contest but several telling saves from captain Tim Allen, but despite pulling level early in the second half were off the pace against the competition front-runners.

Olympic FC 1 (Youeil SHOL 64’,
FNQ Heat 3 (Jamie CARROLL 6’, Joshua PIN 26’, Christopher O’HARE 87’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/213t0Uh

FNQ Heat stormed into equal first on the table following a comfortable win over a ten-man Olympic FC.

The result marks three consecutive wins for Heat over Olympic – and the second straight year they have taken three points in Brisbane – after the side’s memorable clash in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2014 Finals Series.

It also notched a winning debut for Heat coach Tim Campbell in his first PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues match.