Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Brian Monro

Another exciting week of PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues action saw a raft of tight contests and a continuing arm wrestle for top spot on the table.

Highlights -  http://bit.ly/PS4NPLQLD2016video

 

Redlands United FC  0
Moreton Bay United FC  1 (Jordan FARINA 13')

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1QRcvG1

Moreton Bay United temorarily returned to the top of the table on Friday night after edging Redlands United 1-0 at Cleveland Showgrounds.

An early goal from Jordan Farina proved decisive for Jets as they recorded their third successive win to open their campaign.

However, the points proved hard-fought as Jets goalkeeper Matthew Stein remained firm against sustained late pressure from the hosts to record his first clean sheet of the season.

Western Pride FC  1 (Gabriel HAWASH 83')
FNQ FC Heat  2 (Keiran SANDERS 12', Joshua PIN 52')

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1RFEEja

FNQ Heat reclaimed top spot on the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues table with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Western Pride at Briggs Road Sporting Complex.

Keiran Sanders scored his second goal in two weeks to put the visitors ahead early before Joshua Pin doubled the advantage shortly after the restart.

Pride finished the contest strongly – with Corey Lucas striking the crossbar before Gabriel Hawash pulled a goal back late in the piece – but were unable to salvage a share of the points.

The win moves Heat back ahead of Moreton Bay United in the league standings on goal difference, while Pride remain mired in the bottom rungs of the table with a solitary point from their opening three matches.

Brisbane City FC  3 (Antonio MURRAY 16', Nathan BIRD 71', Samuel SIBATUARA 89'p)
Olympic FC  2 (Sam CRONIN , Youeil SHOL 60' 90+2')

Match Report - http://bit.ly/22b4mn8

Brisbane City claimed derby bragging rights over Olympic FC with a see-sawing and drama packed 3-2 win at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.

Antonio Murray scored his second goal in as many games to give the hosts the advantage at the break before Olympic came out firing in the second stanza – levelling via Sam Cronin.

Nathan Bird edged City ahead once more before Samuel Sibatuara’s late penalty effectively sealed the points for the hosts - Olympic's late consolation coming from Youeil Shol, who moves top of the Golden Boot race.

The result marks City’s first win over their cross-river rivals since 2014 and lifts City into the top four ahead of Sunday’s final fixtures of the round.

Sunshine Coast FC  3 (Shoichi KISHIMIZU 3' 84', Paul MIKULA 8')
Northern Fury FC  1 (Benjamin STANLEY 63')

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1U9nJeQ

A double from Shoichi Kishimizu has guided Sunshine Coast FC to a 3-1 win against Northern Fury at Kawana Sports Reserve - Fire's first of the season.

The result marks a first ever PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues win for new Fire coach Sam Saif on his first match-day in charge of the squad.

It also sees Fury remain at the bottom of the standings as the sole team without a competition point after three rounds.

Gold Coast City FC  1 (Benjamin LITFIN 83')
Brisbane Strikers FC  1 (Rhys MEREDITH 24')

Match Report - http://bit.ly/1QOmM8f

A frantic final ten minutes frustrated both Gold Coast City and Brisbane Strikers as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Duncan McKenna Field.

Both City and Strikers were dramatically denied by the woodwork in the final minutes as the sides saw their attempts to salvage a winner go without reward.

An inspired performance from City goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas proved telling at the final whistle, with the 2014 Safe Hands Award winner making several crucial saves in the second half.

Brisbane Roar FC Youth  1 (Jesse DALEY 28'9)
SWQ Thunder FC  1 (Jackson HAUSSLER 60')

Match report - http://bit.ly/1pgHc0f

Brisbane Roar Youth demonstrated resolve beyond their years to overcame an early send-off to record a solid 1-1 draw with SWQ Thunder at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Young Roar were dealt a blow only 11 minutes into the contest when defender Aaron Reardon was dismissed, but took the lead midway through the opening stanza when Jesse Daley converted from the penalty spot.

However, Thunder’s superior numbers eventually told as Jackson Haussler netted his first PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues goal to secure a share of the points and a return to the top half of the table.