The National Premier Leagues action continues this weekend with Round 10 featuring another set of exciting match-ups across the length of the Sunshine State.

Stay up to date with all the weekend’s fixtures in the weekly preview.

Redlands United FC (2^nd) v Olympic FC (1^st)
Friday, 17^th May 2013 – Cleveland Showgrounds, 6:30pm

Round Ten of the National Premier Leagues kicks off with a bang on Friday night when Redlands United host a top-of-the-table clash against Olympic FC at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Redlands were apace with the league leaders through the opening seven rounds, however a draw against Sunshine Coast and a loss against Northern Fury in the club’s two previous outings has allowed Olympic to pull six points clear atop the table.

Olympic remain the NPL’s only unbeaten side nearing the midpoint of the regular season; however, in an encouraging sign for the Devils, Olympic have not kept a clean sheet since the second round win against QAS.

It promises to be an attacking contest, with Olympics front three of Tim Smits, Danny Byrne and Jai Ingham sharing 25 goals between them; while Redlands attacking trio of Reuben Way, Graham Fyfe and Jheison Macuace have netted a combined total of 22 times for the hosts.

CQFC Energy (12^th) v Queensland Academy of Sport (11^th)
Saturday, 18^th May 2013 – Martens Oval, 6:00pm

Bottom placed Central Queensland FC Energy have the chance to move off the foot of the NPL ladder on Saturday night when they host QAS at Martens Oval in Bundaberg.

The fixture is CQFC’s first foray to Bundaberg, as the Rockhampton-based side strives to position itself as the football destination of choice for the region’s aspiring elite footballers.

Results haven’t been flattering thus far for the Energy, who fell to Western Pride 6-2 in Ipswich last round, however team spirit remains high and with some promising passages of play the side is edging ever closer to a reversal of form.

QAS will also view the fixture as a chance to improve their table position, the Academy’s talented youngsters falling to FNQ FC 3-2 last weekend a week after recording their first win of the campaign.

While the result could go either way, much will depend on how impressive QAS and Brisbane Roar youth defender Cameron Crestani matches up against Energy sharpshooter Chris Geddes – the Scot sitting third amongst NPL goal scorers with ten goals so far this season.

Brisbane Strikers FC (4^th) v Sunshine Coast FC Fire (5^th)
Saturday, 18^th May 2013 – Perry Park, 7:00pm

An old rivalry is rekindled in a new setting on Saturday night when Brisbane Strikers host former QSL foes Sunshine Coast Fire in a mouth-watering match-up at Perry Park.

Both sides will be looking to bounce back after suffering defeats last weekend – Strikers falling 3-2 to Palm Beach, while Fire conceded late to go down 1-0 at home against Brisbane City.

After an impressive start to the season Strikers defensive frailties have been highlighted of late, with David Large’s side yet to record a competition point in May and in danger of slipping outside the top four.

Sunshine Coast’s concerns are at the other end of the pitch, with Kevin Aherne-Evans consistently lamenting his side’s inability to convert chances into goals this season.

Sunshine Coast still boast the best defensive record in the league however, and Strikers will need their attacking wing combination of Greg King and Jonti Richter to be at their best if they are to break down the Fire wall.

Moreton Bay United Jets FC (7^th) v Western Pride FC (8th)
Saturday, 18^th May 2013 – Wolter Park, 7:00pm

Western Pride will be looking to record their third straight win when they travel to Wolter Park in a mid-table match up against Moreton Bay United Jets on Saturday night.

Pride are progressing well this season and have found form in recent rounds against regional clubs FNQ FC Heat and CQFC Energy – front pairing Russell Woodruffe and Peter Drager proving near unstoppable in the back-to-back home wins.

However, the Ipswich based club’s challenge is to carry that form on the road against a competitive Moreton Bay outfit that have impressed without reward in recent rounds.

The Jets toiled valiantly to be level with Olympic after 80 minutes last weekend, only to cede their share of the points by conceding two late goals to the league leaders.

The fade out proved particularly disappointing for the Jets’ parochial supporter base, who haven’t seen their side record a competition point at their Wolter Park home since late March.

FNQ FC Heat (9^th) v Palm Beach Sharks FC (10^th)
Saturday, 18^th May 2013 – Barlow Park, 7:30pm

Far North Queensland FC Heat return to the tropical north on Saturday night when they host the NPL’s southernmost side, Palm Beach Sharks, at Barlow Park.

The fixture is the Heat’s first at home since Round 6 after the Cairns-based club concluded a three match road trip to the state’s south-east corner with two wins and a loss to move to ninth on the table.

Last weekend, FNQ found form with an impressive 3-0 result against QAS as star striker Jamie Carroll netted his first hat-trick of the campaign to extend his personal tally to five goals for the season.

Palm Beach are also coming off a season-reviving victory after they defeated perennial powerhouse Brisbane Strikers for their first home win as mid-season signings Jarrod Kyle and Alex Panic start to gel in the front third.

The duo will need to be on song for the Sharks again this weekend as the club contends with the additional challenge of travelling some 1750 kilometres for the fixture – the longest away trip of any NPL club in the country.

Brisbane City FC (3^rd) v Northern Fury FC (6^th)
Sunday, 19^th May 2013 – Spencer Park, 3:00pm

Brisbane City will strive to cement their position in the National Premier Leagues top four when they host Northern Fury at Spencer Park on Sunday afternoon.

City have surged into third place on the table with six consecutive wins and, with a game in hand compared to their fellow finals contenders, will be keen to set themselves up for a tilt at the title in the second half of the season.

League-leading goal scorer Antonio Murray continues to impress for City, netting for the fourth consecutive week in last round’s hard-fought 1-0 win against Sunshine Coast Fire.

Northern Fury have strike power of their own though, with Alex Read finding the form that saw him represent the club at A-League level – the young forward scoring a double against Redlands last weekend to take his personal haul to eight goals for the campaign.

Despite sitting only five points adrift of the top four and boasting an undefeated home record, doubts still surround Fury’s finals credentials in the absence of away results – the club yet to record a point from four forays to the state’s south east corner.

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)