Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Duncan McKenna

Time is running out in the race for the Premiership title - as well as the top four! – and this weekend’s fixtures could prove crucial for a host of clubs.

 

Redlands United FC v Northern Fury FC
Saturday, August 6 | 3:00PM
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

 

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Fresh off their headline grabbing ‘cupset’ against Adelaide United during the week, Redlands return to the rigmarole of league action when they host bottom of the table Fury.

Despite their midweek plaudits, Redlands have only won two of their past seven league outings and must secure three points to stay in the frame for a second consecutive PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series placing.

Meanwhile, Fury are still searching for that elusive first win of the season, however are boosted by the knowledge they have never been defeated at Cleveland Showgrounds by Redlands in three previous visits.

With the possibility of the hosts suffering a Westfield FFA Cup hangover, there could be no better opportunity for Fury to break their duck this year.

Brisbane Roar FC Youth v Brisbane City FC
Saturday, August 6 | 5:00PM
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

 

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2aI0VzR

City are looking to return to the top four when they face Young Roar in the second match of Saturday’s bayside double header.

Three straight draws has allowed City’s traditional rivals Olympic to usurp them in fourth place on the table and a win this weekend will be crucial to their post-season hopes.

Young Roar have also come off the boil in recent weeks, but a breakthrough win in Townsville last week sees them still able to sneak into fourth come season’s end should other results fall their way.

The hosts hold the historical advantage between these two clubs but after notching their first ever win over Young Roar earlier this year, City will be eager to secure a league double against their capital city rivals.

Brisbane Strikers FC v FNQ FC Heat
Saturday, August 6 | 6:00PM
Perry Park, Brisbane

 

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It’s not quite do-or-die, but it might as well be, as the league’s top two sides clash in a match that could well settle this year’s Premiership race.

Strikers go into the fixture as the form team – with four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions and just one loss since they fell to Heat back in April.

However, despite being bundled out of the Westfield FFA Cup, Heat are undefeated in their past four league outings and have never been defeated by Strikers at Perry Park.

Aside from the race for the title the personal battles will add extra flavour, with Strikers’ Rhys Meredith and Heat’s Jamie Carroll both eyeing off this year’s Golden Boot award as the competition’s highest goalscorer.

In an added bonus for Heat supporters in the state's north, this match will be live streamed by Queensland Soccer News.

Western Pride FC v Moreton Bay United FC
Saturday, August 6 | 7:00PM
Briggs Road Sports Complex, Ipswich

 

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Pride are looking to record just their second home win of the season when they host finals aspirants Jets in Saturday’s late kick-off.

The Ipswich club are winless in their past nine and still not clear of this year’s wooden spoon, but will draw on an extremely competitive turn in their last start defeat to in-form Strikers.

Meanwhile, Jets will need to take full points from their final away match of the regular season if they are to  keep pace with the top four going into the final fortnight of the season.

History favours the visitors with Pride never getting the better of Jets in seven previous meetings since 2013.

Sunshine Coast FC v SWQ Thunder FC
Sunday, August 7 | 2:00PM
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

 

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For Fire and Thunder the equation is simple this weekend – a win will keep their faint hopes of a top four finish alive, while a defeat will spell their end of their finals hopes.

Both sides go into the contest after being held scoreless in back-to-back defeats and will need to find that missing spark in the attacking third.

Fire have never lost to Thunder – home or away – but Sunshine Coast Stadium has proven an unhappy hunting ground for the hosts this year with just a single win at the venue back in April.

A good performance for either side could be the catalyst for a strong run home to build a base for next year’s league assault.

Olympic FC v Gold Coast City FC
Sunday, August 7 | 6:00PM
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

 

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2amwylL

City can potentially lock down a top four finish when they travel to fellow form side Olympic in the closing match of the round.

Currently holding down third and fourth place, these two sides have been near unstoppable in recent months with both only tasting defeat once since the start of June.

However, City have never defeated Olympic on their home patch in three previous attempts and will need to have learned the lessons from failing to put away Brisbane City last week despite a host of chances.

This match marks a run of three straight home games for Olympic, who will be determined to take maximum points in their search for a fourth straight appearance in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series.