Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Chris Simpson

It’s the final round of the home and away season and the race for fourth place will come down to the final whistle.

Redlands United FC v Brisbane Roar FC
Friday, August 19 |
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bBYlvY

Redlands are aiming to set the bar for the top four when they kick-off the round on Friday night against Young Roar.

While three points will be the main priority for the bayside club, the margin will be equally important to their finals chances.

Fourth-placed Brisbane City currently boast a five-goal advantage on for-and-against and Redlands will need to post their biggest win of the season to reel them in.

Young Roar won the corresponding fixture earlier this year and haven’t tasted defeat at the hands of Redlands since their debut PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues season in 2014.

However, Redlands will be heartened by the knowledge Young Roar’s last match at the Showgrounds saw them concede four goals in their heaviest defeat of the season.

Match Officials – Alex King (referee), Joey Lee (assistant), Max Crane (assistant), Justin Temple (fourth)

Sunshine Coast FC v Gold Coast City FC
Saturday, August 20 | 2:00PM
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2b5D3W3

City are looking to maintain their momentum heading into the Finals when they take on the enigmatic Fire in Saturday’s early kick-off.

City are undefeated in their past seven outings and another three points will see them edge ahead of FNQ Heat in the race for second place – putting the pressure on the Cairns club, who play later Saturday night.

Fire have lost their past three matches but will be determined to give their home fans a positive end to an inconsistent campaign that has delivered just a single win at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Adding additional intrigue is the battle for this year’s Golden Boot, with City’s Benjamin Litfin currently equal first in the race for the honour with 17 goals.

Match Officials – Trent Sleeman (referee), Jay Hudson (assistant), Joshua Eiser (assistant), Amanda Wiebe (fourth)

Brisbane Strikers FC v Brisbane City FC
Saturday, August 20 | 6:00PM
Perry Park, Brisbane

 

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bkgiA9

It’s more than just local bragging rights on the line as City look to seal fourth place against Strikers on Saturday night.

City are undefeated since late June, however, that six-match run has delivered four draws and another may not be enough to stave off the challenge of Redlands and Olympic in the race for the Finals.

Meanwhile, Strikers’ have won their past five matches in all competitions and have claimed the spoils from their past three PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues fixtures against City at Perry Park.

However, with the Premiership title sealed and an important Westfield FFA Cup clash scheduled for midweek, Strikers may prove vulnerable against a City side with little to lose.

But equal league-leading scorer Rhys Meredith will still be hungry for goals as he looks to seal the competition’s Golden Boot award.

Match Officials – Matt Skinner (referee), James Sherry (assistant), Oleg Labuz (assistant), Isidro Terol Crespo (fourth)

Moreton Bay United FC v Northern Fury FC
Saturday, August 20 | 6:00PM
Wolter Park, Moreton Bay

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bxElud

It’s Fury’s last chance to avoid a winless season when they head to Wolter Park to take on the mid-table Jets on Saturday night.

Coming off the back of a drubbing from Strikers last weekend, the bottom-of-the-table Fury will be desperate to avoid joining Thunder as the only Queensland clubs to fail to pick up a win in a PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues season.

Standing in their way is a Jets side that has one just one of their past seven and destined for their lowest finish on the league ladder in the competition.

However, history suggests a positive conclusion to their campaign – with Fury never getting the better of Jets in seven prior meetings.

Match Officials – Katie Patterson (referee), Ben Cook (assistant), Noah Reynold (assistant), Albert Krause (fourth)

FNQ FC Heat v SWQ Thunder FC
Saturday, August 20 | 6:30PM
Barlow Park, Cairns

 

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bxGJRr

Heat must put the disappointment of falling short in this year’s Premiership race behind them when they host Thunder in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Winless in their past two matches, the Cairns club can seal second place with a win to equal their highest finish in a regular season.

However, they line-up against a Thunder side that pulled off one of the upsets of the season to defeat the then league-leaders – becoming one of only three clubs to keep Heat scoreless this year.

If Thunder can claim all three points again they will become the first club to post a league double over Heat this season – however, they will need to close down Heat leading goalscorer Jamie Carroll, who remains well in the hunt for this year’s Golden Boot.

Match Officials – David Walsh (referee), Chris Doherty Fisher (assistant), Daniel Breuninger (assistant), Chris Dawson (fourth)

Olympic FC v Western Pride FC
Sunday, August 21 | 6:00PM
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bC6roc

Hosting the final match of the round against Pride, Olympic will know precisely what is required if they are to seal a fourth straight finals appearance.

It could prove a tall ask for the capital city club though, with a massive seven goal difference currently separating them from traditional rivals City.

If they are to rack up a big score they will have to break down a Pride defensive line that notched back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in club history last weekend.

However, Pride will have to overcome a less-than-stellar record against Olympic, with just one win to their credit in seven previous encounters between the sides.

Match Officials – Zac Keenan (referee), Justin Temple (assistant), Joey Lee (assistant), Brad Burton (fourth)