Round eight is upon us as teams go toe-to-toe for ascendancy on the ladder. 

Who will maintain their climb towards the top? Will the mid-table teams find consistency, or will those at the bottom find a breakthrough? 

 

By Tyler Sunderland

NPL

 

Redlands United | vs | Brisbane Strikers
Cleveland Showgrounds | Friday | 7:00pm

Both teams fighting for top half of table

Redlands United and Brisbane Strikers are two of the six teams currently on seven competition points, proving that this season’s NPL competition is a closely contested battle. The Strikers will be travelling to Cleveland Showgrounds to break away from this seven-point pack and cement their place in the top half of the table. Redlands will have a similar plan for this Friday Night’s game, as they look to avoid back-to-back losses and find consistency.

 

Brisbane City FC | vs | Sunshine Coast FC
Corporate Travel Management Stadium | Saturday | 6:30pm

Different streaks to be broken at City?

Brisbane City will play their third consecutive game at home this weekend, when they take on Sunshine Coast FC. The Sunshine Coast Fire suffered a heavy defeat in round seven, going down 13-0 against Lions FC. To avoid their sixth straight loss, the Fire will have to pull something out of their hat to overcome a City side that are undefeated in their last three fixtures.

 

Western Pride FC | vs | SWQ Thunder FC
Briggs Road Sporting Complex | Saturday | 7:00pm

The NPL’s war of the west!

The two “western” sides will do battle this Saturday night, when the Western Pride host SWQ Thunder. The home side will no doubt be confident, as their ability to find the back of the net has been impressive. 27 goals in their last four games for the Western Pride will be on the Thunder’s agenda, as they look to add to their two wins so far this season.

 

North QLD United | vs | Cairns FC
Brolga Park | Saturday | 7:00pm

Cairns travel in their shortest road trip

Cairns will travel 347kms down the Bruce Highway to Brolga Park this Saturday, their shortest away journey. Waiting for them will be North Queensland United, who were on the wrong end of a 1-0 score-line against Gold Coast United. Cairns FC managed a draw against competition leaders Olympic FC in round seven, and will look to go one better in round eight.

 

Brisbane Roar Youth FC | vs | Olympic FC
Logan Metro Sports Complex | Saturday | 7:00pm

Roar plan to provide first Olympic loss

A 2-2 draw against Cairns at home has continued Olympic's undefeated 2018 season. Looking to disrupt Olympic’s fine form is the Brisbane Roar Youth, who will remain inside the top four with a win this Saturday night. The Roar will wish to rectify their round seven loss to the Brisbane Strikers with three points this weekend.

 

Gold Coast United | vs | Magpies Crusaders FC
Meakin Park | Saturday | 7:00pm

Magpies looking to swoop at neutral venue

Both Gold Coast United and the Mackay Magpies will hit the road this weekend, when they face off at Football Queensland’s Meakin Park. The neutral venue, picked due to the Commonwealth Games, will hopefully provide the Magpies Crusaders with a strong opportunity to steal their first points in three games. Gold Coast United will have no such plans however, as they look to break away from the seven-points pack.

 

Moreton Bay United | vs | Lions FC
Wolter Park | Saturday | 7:00pm

Lions hoping to pounce into top four

Round seven goal-scoring pair Christopher Maher and Carter Glockner will hope to deliver the same fate they gave Sunshine Coast FC last weekend, when they clash with Moreton Bay United in round eight. A whopping 13 goals were scored by the Lions, who sit just outside the top four. Attempting to deny them access into the top four is Moreton Bay United, who suffered only their second loss last weekend.

 

FQPL

 

Southside Eagles | vs | Eastern Suburbs FC
Perry Park | Saturday | 6:00pm

Tigers travel to Perry Park

Eastern Suburbs will clash with Southside Eagles this Saturday evening, with both teams coming off round seven victories. The Eagles won a tight contest with Mitchelton, giving them their second win of the season. The Tigers of the East triumphed over Rochedale Rovers 6-0, which snapped a two game losing streak and provided their first win of the campaign.

 

Holland Park Hawks FC | vs | Mitchelton FC
Whites Hill Reserve | Saturday | 6:00pm

Hawks look to fly back into the winners circle

The Holland Park Hawks were undefeated prior to their last two games, and will be looking to get back to their winning ways when they take on Mitchelton FC. The Mustangs of Mitchelton are also looking to snap a two game losing streak, and will have to do it on the road as they travel to Hawks territory this round.

 

Rochedale Rovers | vs | Wolves FC
Underwood Park | Saturday | 6:15pm

Wolves to roam to Rovers

The winless Wolves FC are coming off a round seven bye, and will have used the time away to regroup and conjure up a winning formula. Their opponents are the Rochedale Rovers, who were handed a 6-0 defeat by Eastern Suburbs last weekend. Both teams will hope to find some goal scoring rhythm as we head towards the middle of the season.

 

Souths United | vs | Logan Lightning
Wakerley Park | Saturday | 7:15pm

Can Lightning strike three weeks in a row?

Logan Lightning are one win away from being strong top four contenders, after a 6-0 victory against Ipswich Knights solidified their spot in the top half of the table. They will have to steal points from Souths United at their Wakerley Park, who have not been defeated at home thus far. Souths United will no doubt look to Kado Aoci to add to his tally of six goals in order to overcome the Lightning of Logan.

 

Ipswich Knights | vs | Peninsula Power
Eric Evans Oval | Sunday | 3:00pm

Knights hope to cut the power

Ipswich Knights have yet to gain points since their round three clash with Wide Bay, but will be looking to rectify that issue when they host Peninsula Power. The Power have pulled away on the competition ladder, and are five points off Sunshine Coast Wanderers (who have a game in hand). Power have been able to score from all areas of the park this season, as they have 11 different goal scorers. Ipswich will be keen to limit their scoring opportunities in order to grab the three points.

 

Wide Bay Buccaneers | vs | Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Hervey Bay United SC | Sunday | 3:00pm

Buccaneers welcome the Wanderers

Sunshine Coast Wanderers will travel up the Bruce Highway where they will face Wide Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Wanderers are yet to have a loss beside their name this season, but the Buccaneers will be aiming to do just that. The Wide Bay side will be aiming to use a home ground advantage to gain their first points of the FQPL season.

 

NPLW

Capalaba Bulldogs | vs | Souths United
John Frederick Sportsfield | Friday | 6:30pm

First place Souths travel to Capabala

Souths United continue to shine in 2018, after defeating the Sunshine Coast Wanderers 6-1 in round seven. A victory over the Bulldogs of Capalaba will take their record to seven wins from eight games. The Bulldogs themselves will hope to continue their undefeated run of three games, and hope a home crowd will help them over the line.

 

Logan Lightning | vs | Western Pride
Cornubia Park | Saturday | 6:00pm

Lightning set to strike at home

Logan Lightning were unable to grab any points in round seven against The Gap, largely thanks to a double from The Gap’s Greta Bodey. However, Logan took the ladder leaders all the way in that fixture and will no-doubt believe that a home fixture against the Western Pride will kick start their season. The Western Pride will hope the likes of Kate Muscat and Sophie Weatherby can continue to find goals, as they look to gain ground on the competition leaders.

 

Eastern Suburbs | vs | Mudgeeraba Soccer Club
Heath Park | Saturday | 6:00pm

Roos look to hop into mid-table

Mudgeeraba were unable to overcome Mitchelton last weekend, but will hope to steal points themselves when they travel to Heath Park to face Eastern Suburbs. The Tigers will have no such intentions, as they look to turn their round seven win against SWQ Thunder into a winning streak.

 

Lions FC | vs | SWQ Thunder FC
Lions Stadium | Saturday | 6:00pm

Lions ready to defend the den

Lions FC will have no intentions of suffering their first loss of 2018, when they host SWQ Thunder on Saturday evening. The orange and blue from Richlands have scored a mammoth 26 goals so far this season, and will be keen to sneak more past the Thunder defence. SWQ have been on the wrong end of all of their fixtures in 2018, and will be keen to turn their fortunes around with a win at Lions Stadium.

 

Mitchelton FC | vs | Brisbane Roar FC/NTC
Teralba Park | Saturday | 6:00pm

Roar travel to Mustang territory

The Brisbane Roar will have to combat a Mitchelton FC side that has consistently found goals this season. A hat trick from Fern Doyle helped the Mustangs overcome Mudgeeraba in round seven. For the Roar, their last two games have seen solid wins over both Logan Lightning and Gold Coast United. Both teams are sitting just outside the top four – a win will push Mitchelton eight points over the Roar.

 

Gold Coast United | vs | The Gap FC
Walton Bridge Reserve | Saturday | 6:00pm

Gators set sights on another victory

The Gap FC are one of two teams yet to drop any points in 2018. Currently sitting three points behind first Souths United (with two games in hand), the Gators will be looking for their sixth win in as many games. The Gold Coast suffered a 2-0 defeat to the hands of the Brisbane Roar, and will be looking to make amends in round eight. Gold Coast have the attacking power, but will need to look to their defence to bridge The Gap.

 

Sunshine Coast Wanderers | vs | Moreton Bay United
Ballinger Park| Sunday | 4:00pm

Wanderers host mixed season Moreton Bay

Jazmyn Perin has been the stand out in-front of goal for Moreton Bay United this season, already bagging seven goals so far. Sunshine Coast Wanderers must stop Perin and the other Moreton Bay goal-scorers if they wish to win in front of a home crowd on Sunday afternoon. The Wanderers were handed a 6-1 defeat last weekend, and are still on the hunt for their first three points of 2018.