NPL Round 7 Preview
The National Premier Leagues action continues this weekend with Round 7 featuring another set of exciting match-ups across the length of the Sunshine State.
Stay up to date with all the fixtures in the weekly preview.
Queensland Academy of Sport (12th) v Brisbane City FC (6th)
Saturday, 27th April 2013 – Wolter Park, 3:30pm
Round 7 of the National Premier Leagues kick offs on Saturday afternoon when Queensland Academy of Sport face Brisbane City in the opening match of the Wolter Park double header.
Brisbane City received a scare last week against Western Pride when they conceded the opening goal before charging to a 3-1 lead; however City conceded again late to ensure a nervous final few minutes for head coach Glen Volker.
Despite the patchy performance City remain one of the league’s form sides on paper, taking maximum points from their last three games in a run that has seen them jump five places on the table since the second round whilst still holding a game in hand.
Meanwhile, QAS are yet to shrug off a slow start to the season that sees them sit at the foot of the NPL table with a solitary competition point.
The Academy youngsters showed improvement in their 3-1 defeat to Redlands United last weekend – holding their own against the second-placed Devils before conceding twice in the final five minutes to cede a share of the points.
However, with QAS now the only side in the NPL without a win to their name, head coach Josh McCloughan will be seeking a full ninety minute performance from his squad of elite youngsters for the first time this season.
Moreton Bay United Jets FC (7th) v FNQ FC Heat (10th)
Saturday, 27th April 2013 – Wolter Park, 6:00pm
In the weekend’s feature game, Moreton Bay United Jets play host to FNQ FC Heat in the second matchup of the Saturday double header at Wolter Park.
Following a series of mixed performances to start the season, both teams know their opponents are capable of bouncing back following heavy last round defeats – the Jets conceding seven goals to a rampant Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park while the Heat let in four at home to the previous winless CQFC Energy.
Jets and Heat will also be eager to end a lacklustre April on a positive note, with both sides winless since March and treading water in the bottom half of the table.
If the contest wasn’t unpredictable enough, both sides will also be without key defenders, with Chris Maticic and Shane Raso both suspended for Jets and Heat respectively after receiving red cards last round.
CQFC Energy (11th) v Olympic FC (1st)
Saturday, 27th April 2013 – Rugby Park, 7:00pm
Fresh from their first win of the season, CQFC Energy face their biggest challenge of their NPL campaign thus far when they welcome league leaders Olympic FC to Rugby Park on Saturday night.
After a shaky start to the year, CQFC turned the form guide on its head last week to record an unexpected 4-1 victory over a ten-man FNQ FC in Cairns.
The prolific Chris Geddes once again did the damage for Energy, netting the opener and finishing with a brace, and Olympic will need to shut down the Scottish attacker who has eight of the Energy’s 11 goals so far this season.
The undefeated Olympic will also be wary of complacency after a less than convincing performance last time they crossed the Tropic of Capricorn, drawing 1-1 with the then tenth placed FNQ FC in Cairns.
And while Olympic’s combination of Tim Smits, Danny Byrne and Jai Ingham has proved devastating up front, defensively the league leaders remain less convincing, having kept only one clean sheet this season against the last placed QAS in Round 2.
Sunshine Coast FC Fire (4th) v Northern Fury FC (5th)
Sunday, 28th April 2013 – Sunshine Coast Stadium, 2:00pm
Northern Fury will be looking to take their recent run of home form on the road Sunday afternoon when the Townsville-based side travel to Sunshine Coast to face the Fire.
Fury have strung together three consecutive home wins – briefly surging into the top four before midweek results pulled them back to fifth – however, Gareth Edd’s side will need to pick up points away from home to be considered genuine finals contenders.
For their part, Sunshine Coast Fire will be seeking to regalvanise their defence after conceding four goals last round to league leaders Olympic at Goodwin Park.
In spite of the blowout, Fire can still boast the best defensive record in the league, keeping three clean sheets in the opening six rounds due in no small part to the contribution of inspirational captain Greig Henslee.
In the front third, Fire head coach Kevin Aherne-Evans’ concerns are slowly fading – his side putting three past Palm Beach in the Coast Derby, with Jeremy Lynch regaining his scoring touch with a brace in the 3-1 win in the ANZAC Day catch-up fixture.
Western Pride FC (9th) v Brisbane Strikers FC (3rd)
Sunday, 28th April 2013 – North Ipswich Reserve, 4:00pm
Brisbane Strikers are looking to extend a three game winning streak on Sunday afternoon when they travel to North Ipswich Reserve to face the struggling Western Pride.
The third-placed Strikers put their fellow finals contenders on notice last week when they tore apart early season surprise packet Moreton Bay Jets 7-0 on the back of a hat-trick from left-winger Greg King.
More pleasing to head coach David Large though was his side’s defensive performance, with Strikers keeping their first clean sheet of the campaign and allowing the Jets few genuine scoring opportunities.
Western Pride’s ongoing defensive concerns remain unresolved however, having now shipped three or more goals in their past four fixtures to be without a competition point since March.
Head coach Kasey Wherman will be disappointed the leaky backline has masked continued improvement in the front third of the pitch, with former Central Coast Mariners forward Russell Woodruffe finding his scoring form of late to provide much needed assistance to early season lone wolf Peter Drager.
Palm Beach Sharks FC (8th) v Redlands United FC (2nd)
Sunday, 28th April 2013 – Mallawa Sports Complex, 5:30pm
Palm Beach seek to conclude a run of three matches in eight days on a positive note when they host second-placed Redlands United at Mallawa Sports Complex on Sunday evening.
The mercurial Sharks are struggling to put in a full ninety minute performance so far this season, sporadically dominating some of the league’s better sides, whilst at other times finding themselves well out of the contest.
Most troubling for Palm Beach coaching staff and supporters is the Sharks disappointing home form, with the side yet to record a win on their own turf – including a frustrating 3-1 loss midweek to Fire in the long-awaited Coast Derby.
Meanwhile Redlands United have no such worries, winning their past five fixtures following an opening weekend loss as opposing teams struggle with the Devils multi-pronged attack.
Matt Chandler’s side have shared the scoring between nine players so far this season, however Redlands will be looking to tighten up further at the back, having kept only the single clean sheet over the course of their impressive run.
Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
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