Words: Simon Smale & Michael Flynn
Images (l to r): Chris Simpson, Sam Attwood, Patrick Kearney

Seven more PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues clubs take their first steps to possible Westfield FFA Cup glory – or heartbreak – this week across Queensland.

Woombye Snakes v Sunshine Coast FC
Tuesday, April 26th | 7:00PM
Woombye Snakes FC, Sunshine Coast

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Woombye Snakes	McDonald’s Premier Men	1st	4	3	0	1	16	8
Sunshine Coast FC	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	9th	8	2	2	4	7	13

Westfield FFA Cup History

	2014	2015
Woombye Snakes	Round 2 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 1
Sunshine Coast FC	Round 4 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 5

Fire are seeking their first ever win in the Westfield FFA Cup but have drawn a tough assignment with an away tie against one of their catchment’s strongest community clubs in Woombye Snakes.

Snakes are the defending Champions of the third-tier McDonald’s Premier League and have been in devastating goal scoring form early in the current campaign – averaging four goals per match, with Luke Alderson (5), Jai Cross (4) and Joel Couacaud (3) leading the way.

They advanced to the current round with wins over Kawana SC, Beerwah Glasshouse United and Coolum FC, but are untested against second tier opponents in a competitive setting after early exits in last year’s Westfield FFA Cup and the precursor Football Queensland Cup qualifying tournament.

Of prime importance for Fire is the need to tighten up defensively in the do-or-die knock-out setting, with just one clean sheet to their credit so far this season.

However, Fire's recent recruitment drive will be of only small assistance with Paul Brownlie, Alexander Warrilow and Jordan Loy all cup-tied for the clash.

The Snakes were formed in 1968 and were one of the foundation members of the then-named Sunshine Coast Soccer Association.

Brisbane City FC v Mitchelton FC
Tuesday, April 26th | 7:00PM
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Brisbane City	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	6th	8	4	1	3	13	14
Mitchelton FC	Flight Centre Premier League	2nd	9	6	0	3	22	16

Westfield FFA Cup History:

	2014	2015
Brisbane City	Round 5 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 5
Mitchelton FC	Round 3 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 4

A big crowd is expected in Brisbane’s inner north as near-neighbours City and Mitchelton face off in a competitive fixture for the first time since City moved into the national second tier.

Mitchelton, formed in 1920, and City share numerous ties and a fierce rivalry since City entered the Brisbane football scene in 1952.

City are one of only three Queensland clubs outside the Hyundai A-League to ever claim national silverware, however their failure to win a single match in two previous Westfield FFA Cup qualifying campaigns has rankled supporters who seek a chance to again meet yesteryear’s interstate rivals.

To achieve that they must overcome a Mitchelton side brimming with confidence following an impressive early return in the third-tier Flight Centre Premier League and a perfect away record this season – scoring 14 goals and conceding just three.

Mitchelton have also excelled in the knock-out format as they eliminated Brisbane Force and Wolves FC in earlier rounds – with hot-shot striker Benjamin Njie slotting six of his side’s 14 goals on the way.

A win for either side will mark their furthest advance ever in the Westfield FFA Cup.

Northern Fury FC v Rebels FC
Wednesday, April 27th | 7:00PM
Brolga Park, Townsville

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Northern Fury	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	12th	8	0	0	8	9	28
Rebels	North Queensland Premier Men’s	3rd	2	1	0	1	6	4

Westfield FFA Cup History

	2014	2015
Northern Fury	Round 5 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 6
Rebels	Round 2 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 3

The winless Fury will aim to put their disappointing start to the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues season to one side as they line-up against local community club Rebels and become the last team standing in the North Queensland qualifying zone.

Despite being in the midst of the club’s worst ever run of results – and coming off the back of 6-0 defeat on the in their last start - Fury can take comfort from their perfect record against lower tier clubs in the Westfield FFA Cup qualifying in previous years.

This year’s Townsville-based opponents, Rebels, currently sit third after just two rounds of North Queensland Premier Men’s competition, and advanced to Preliminary Round 5 with wins over fellow third tier clubs South Eagles Saints and MA Olympic.

The Gunners were established in 1972, and their current Westfield FFA Cup run is their best in the competition’s short history.

The winner of this tie will advance to face current PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland league leaders FNQ Heat in Cairns in the next round.

Gold Coast City FC v Surfers Paradise Apollo SC
Wednesday, April 27th | 7:00PM
Duncan McKenna Field, Gold Coast

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Gold Coast City	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	5th	8	3	4	1	21	11
Surfers Paradise Apollo	BLK Premier League	2nd	7	5	2	0	20	8

Westfield FFA Cup History:

	2014	2015
Gold Coast City	Quarter Final	Round of 16
Surfers Paradise Apollo	Did not enter	Preliminary Round 2

Westfield FFA Cup specialists Gold Coast City play host to third-tier Apollo in a clash that offers bragging rights to the winner as the final Gold Coast club remaining in the competition.

City are the most successful Queensland side in the competition’s short history and are seeking a third straight advance to the national stages of the competition this year.

However, despite currently being on a seven match unbeaten run, City have found the killer blow sometimes elusive in the league this season – evidenced by four draws, including a 1-1 result against Brisbane City in their last start.

Meanwhile Apollo, who were formed in 1978, are in unfamiliar territory in their best Westfield FFA Cup run to date that has seen them knock out Magic United and Gold Coast Knights.

They will be buoyed by a staggering record of having not been bettered inside 90 minutes since June last year, and an impressive vein of scoring form this year – netting on average every 31 minutes.

The winner of this tie will face SWQ Thunder in the next round.

Olympic FC v Moggill FC
Wednesday, April 27th | 7:30PM
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Olympic	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	11th	8	2	0	6	13	25
Moggill	Capital League One	7th	7	4	0	3	16	18

Westfield FFA Cup History:

	2014	2015
Olympic	Round of 16	Preliminary Round 5
Moggill	Round 3 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 4

Fourth tier Capital League One side Moggill FC will need to draw on the oft-stated ‘magic of the cup’ if they are to record an upset away win against Olympic FC.

Olympic come into the tie with a much-needed shot of confidence after downing SWQ Thunder in their last start to end a club record five match losing streak in the national second tier.

Meanwhile, Moggill enter the match on the back of their heaviest league defeat in two years after being humbled 5-0 by Bayside United.

However, Moggill have proved resilient in knock-out competition this year as they saw off North Star in extra time before squeaking past Centenary Stormers in the previous round.

Moggill were formed in 1974 and their current run is their best ever in the Westfield FFA Cup, while Olympic are seeking to emulate the heights they reached in the competition’s inaugural year when they reached the final 16.

Lions FC v Western Pride FC
Wednesday, April 27th | 7:30PM
Lions Stadium, Brisbane

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Lions FC	Flight Centre Premier League	1st	9	7	1	1	23	8
Western Pride	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	10th	8	2	1	5	12	19

Westfield FFA Cup History:

	2014	2015
Lions FC	Round 7 (FQ Cup)	Round of 16
Western Pride	Round 5 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 5

Form and history are against Western Pride as they make the short journey to Brisbane's western edge to face a Lions FC side widely considered to be the strongest across Queensland's myriad of third tier competitions.

Pride are yet to record a win in two previous attempts to qualify for the Westfield FFA Cup and have been enigmatic in the league this season – succumbing to three straight defeats in recent weeks following a competitive, if unspectacular, start to the campaign.

Meanwhile, Lions are again proving a dominant force in the Flight Centre Premier League this season with just one defeat from their opening nine matches as they seek to defend last year’s Premiership title.

Lions, who were formed in 1957, will also be boosted by their advance to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 last year – one of only two Queensland clubs to reach that stage of the competition.

They also boast form against PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues opponents this year after downing SWQ Thunder, Gold Coast City and Brisbane Strikers in the BLK Silverboot pre-season tournament.

Pine Rivers United FC v Redlands United FC
Wednesday, April 27th | 7:30PM
Wendy Allison Park, Moreton Bay

2016 League Competition:

	DIVISION	POS	P	W	D	L	F	A
Pine Rivers United	Capital League One	9th	8	3	0	5	12	20
Redlands United	PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues	2nd	8	6	0	2	14	8

Westfield FFA Cup History:

	2014	2015
Pine Rivers United	Round 2 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 7
Redlands United	Round 5 (FQ Cup)	Preliminary Round 7

Redlands travel to fourth-tier Capital One outfit Pine Rivers United as heavy favourites after stamping their authority on the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues in recent weeks.

The Red Devils suffered a shock loss to SWQ Thunder in Round 4, however since then have proved the form side of the competition by recording four straight wins and becoming the first team to defeat league leaders FNQ Heat in their last start.

By contrast, Pine Rivers are battling to keep their head above water in the league this season – failing to score in half of their matches and shipping a goal on average every 36 minutes.

They have also benefitted from a relatively favourable draw to advance to the current round by seeing off fifth-tier New Farm United and sixth-tier Virginia United.

However, both sides were amongst the final teams standing in the Brisbane qualifying zone last year – advancing to Preliminary Round 7 – and know what it takes to prevail in the winner-takes-all format.