NPL Round 14 Preview
The National Premier Leagues action continues this weekend with Round 14 featuring another set of exciting match-ups right across Queensland.
Stay up to date with all the weekend’s fixtures in the weekly preview.
Palm Beach Sharks (8th) v Queensland Academy of Sport (12th)
Saturday, 22nd June 2013 – Mallawa Complex, 5:30pm
Queensland Academy of Sport will make the trip down the M1 on Saturday afternoon when they meet the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach Sharks in a lower table clash at Mallawa Complex.
The Academy were held scoreless for the first time since their Round 7 loss to Brisbane City last weekend, falling 2-0 to league leaders Olympic FC at Goodwin Park.
However, Josh McCloughan’s youngsters will be better for the run against the NPL’s leading side and will hope to catch Palm Beach off guard after the Sharks’ Round 13 match up against Western Pride was postponed.
The unexpected week off comes only two weeks after the mid-season break and interrupts an impressive run of results for Sharks, who have won three of their past four matches.
The teams previously met on neutral ground as part of the Perry Park double-header in March. Sharks prevailed 3-0 on that occasion and the Gold Coast club will be hoping their home ground advantage sees them get over the line once again this weekend.
Brisbane City (2nd) v FNQ FC Heat (10th)
Saturday, 22nd June 2013 – Spencer Park, 6:00pm
Brisbane City are looking to keep the pressure on league-leaders Olympic FC on Saturday night when they welcome FNQ FC Heat to Spencer Park in the NPL Round 14 feature game.
City will be eager to get back on the pitch and continue their ten-game undefeated run after their last round match against Brisbane Strikers was postponed due to floodlighting issues at Perry Park.
A 7-0 win over Heat in Round 3 kick-started City’s season after two opening round losses, and head coach Glen Volker will be hoping another three points this weekend continues his side’s tilt for the inaugural NPL Queensland league title.
For FNQ FC, the match marks their second trip to Newmarket this season after they were defeated by Redlands United at the same venue as part of an early season double-header.
The Heat are also coming off a valiant performance in Mareeba last weekend where they let slip an early lead to eventually succumb 4-2 to third-placed Redlands. They will look to continue their run of results in the south-east of the state, winning two of their six trips south so far this season.
CQFC Energy (11th) v Redlands United (3rd)
Saturday, 22nd June 2013 – Jardine Park, 7:00pm
Redlands United face their second long distance away trip in two weeks when they travel to the southern edge of the tropics to face CQFC Energy in Rockhampton on Saturday night.
The bayside club has surged in to third place on the NPL table after a mid-season slump saw the Devils claim only two competition points throughout May.
However, back to back wins against Strikers at home and FNQ FC in Mareeba have kept Matt Chandler’s team’s title hopes alive and strengthened their hold on a finals spot come end of the season.
Meanwhile, CQFC Energy are undergoing a resurgence of their own, with the addition of English head coach and technical director Raymond Wood giving the club new impetus – last week’s 2-2 draw in Townsville an early indication of Energy’s potential to earn results in tough conditions.
The club’s new found competitiveness, and home town advantage, means Energy are unlikely to repeat their embarrassing 11-2 defeat at the hands of the same opposition when they last met in Round 3 – dynamic frontman Rueben Way netting five goals for Redlands on that occasion.
Northern Fury (7th) v Moreton Bay Jets (6th)
Saturday, 22nd June 2013 – Townsville Sports Reserve, 7:00pm
Northern Fury return to Townsville Sports Reserve for their fourth straight home game when they welcome Moreton Bay Jets for a mouth-watering mid-table match-up on Saturday night.
The Fury were held to a 2-2 draw at Brolga Park last weekend by CQFC Energy, the result marking three straight games where Fury have failed to win at home.
A win on Saturday would reaffirm the Townsville team’s fading finals hopes against a first year Jets side that continues to outshine some of the league’s more established clubs.
The Jets are undefeated in their last four outings and Terry Kirkham’s side are warming to their new found position as legitimate finals contenders following an impressive 2-0 win over Sunshine Coast Fire last weekend.
The Jets currently sit level with Fire two points shy of the NPL top four, and hold a seven point lead over Fury below.
The last time these two sides met Jets prevailed 3-0 at Wolter Park, the goals shared by Josh South, Moses Joseph and Michael McEvoy.
Sunshine Coast Fire (5th) v Western Pride (9th)
Sunday, 23rd June 2013 – Sunshine Coast Stadium, 2:00pm
Sunshine Coast Fire are seeking a return to winning ways on Sunday when they welcome Ipswich’s Western Pride to Sunshine Coast Stadium at Kawana.
The Fire have been erratic of late – falling 2-0 to near neighbours Moreton Bay Jets last round after dismantling CQFC 9-0 the week before – and will be looking for greater consistency if they are to move into the NPL top four.
Equally erratic are a Western Pride side that returns from an unexpected week-off after their match against Palm Beach was postponed after heavy rain flooded the Briggs Road pitch.
Kasey Wehrman’s side will be looking to make amends for a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Fire in March – a match that also fell victim to a severe thunderstorm.
The Pride have won three and lost two from their past five matches and can possibly jump to seventh on the NPL table with another three points this weekend.
Olympic FC (1st) v Brisbane Strikers (4th)
Sunday, 23rd June 2013 – Goodwin Park, 5:00pm
Olympic FC will look to sure up their title claims on Sunday evening when they host cross-town rivals Brisbane Strikers at Goodwin Park in the closing match of the round.
Olympic have been the team to catch all season in the NPL, scoring more goals than any other club – 52 in all – as well as conceding 20 times for the second-best defensive record in the competition.
They will match up against a patchy Brisbane Strikers side that is looking to re-establish their finals claims after a series of mixed results in recent weeks.
The Strikers followed up impressive 3-0 wins over Sunshine Coast Fire and Northern Fury with a lacklustre 3-0 defeat at Redlands United in their last outing.
The postponement of their match-up against Brisbane City last week denied the Strikers a chance to regain their mojo against one of the league’s form teams before facing the league leaders.
However, David Large’s side will be eager to avenge their 7-2 loss to Olympic the last time the side’s met – Tim Smits, who returned to goal scoring form last week against QAS, scoring a hat-trick for Olympic on that occasion.
Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
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