After a week which had more drama off the pitch than on it the 2023 NPL Queensland Men’s regular season has drawn to a close with the weekend’s Round 22 action.
An administrative error by Football Queensland in relation to the Round 13 clash between Brisbane City and Peninsula Power – a result which had big ramifications on the finals make up saw the decision made on Friday that the competition would play a six team finals series rather than four as had been originally planned.
Following the restructure to the format Brisbane City, Lions & Peninsula Power all secured finals berths over the course of Saturday’s action.
Moreton Bay claimed second spot while Lions slipped to fifth after the pair played out a 1-1 draw at Luxury Paints Stadium.
Marquez Walters claimed the league’s golden boot with a powerful half-volley from the top of the box in the 59th minute for what was his 16th goal of the season before Andy Pengelly, who finishes second on 15 goals, restored parity from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
Brisbane City climbed to fourth and sealed a return to finals football for the first time in ten years with a 4-1 win over Gold Coast United at Imperial Corp Stadium.
Curtis Stollery scrambled the ball over the line the fourth minute to put United ahead before Jheison Macuace headed home a leveller on the stroke of half time.
Braydon Doolan then put City in front with a thunderous half volley in the 55th minute before a pair of stoppage time strikes from Doolan and Ginjiro Chiba sealed a commanding victory for the league’s highest scoring side.
Peninsula Power sealed sixth spot with a 3-1 win over Redlands United at AJ Kelly Park thanks to goals from Josiah Hitchock, Sam Cronin and Solomon Weldemariam.
Deane Alterio was on target for Redlands, who finished their first season back in Queensland’s top flight in tenth position.
Gold Coast Knights rounded out their Premiership winning campaign with a 2-1 win over a Rochedale Rovers side who finish in seventh at Underwood Park.
Ante Poljak bagged a brace for the visitors while Marek Madle was on target for Rochedale with the pair finishing equal third on the league’s top scorers charts on 12 goals each.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers and Brisbane Roar who finish the season in eighth and ninth respectively played out a 2-2 draw at Ballinger Park.
Goals from Daniel Cuttler and Chris Morseray had the Wanderers two goals up before Roar fought back to snatch a share of the spoils courtesy of strikes from Fernando Nash and Nathan Geyer.
Olympic ran out resounding 6-1 winners over Eastern Suburbs in a battle between the league’s two relegated sides at Goodwin Park.
Daniel Leck netted a brace while Davide Carmignani. Lathan Dunn, Nathan Beagley and Alex Witte were also on target for Chris Grossman’s side.
Meanwhile Surfers Paradise Apollo sealed promotion the NPL for the first time in their history with a 3-0 win over Albany Creek Excelsior.
They’ll be joined in the top flight by either Wynnum Wolves or Logan Lightning with second spot set to be decided next weekend.
Next weekend’s revamped finals series will see Brisbane City host Lions and Gold Coast United take on Peninsula Power in the Elimination Finals.
The league’s top two, Gold Coast Knights and Moreton Bay United will face the winner of those two ties in the Semi Finals the following weekend.
NPL Queensland Men Round 22 Results
Brisbane City 4-1 Gold Coast United
Olympic FC 6-1 Eastern Suburbs
Peninsula Power 3-1 Redlands United
Lions FC 1-1 Moreton Bay United
Rochedale Rovers 1-2 Gold Coast Knights
Sunshine Coast Wanderers 2-2 Brisbane Roar