NPL Queensland Round 13 Preview

A massive Round 13 of the National Premier Leagues kicks off on Friday night with two top-of-the-table clashes in the Moreton Bay region.

First up is Peninsula Power versus Brisbane Roar at A J Kelly Park, followed by a cracking NPL Women’s clash between Moreton Bay United and league-leaders Lions FC at Wolter Park.

There will be plenty of action in Brisbane’s southeast on Saturday night as Redlands United host Olympic FC, and Capalaba FC take on Eastern Suburbs in a men’s and women’s double header at Max Haynes Field.

Gold Coast United will make the longest away trip in Queensland football as they travel to Mackay to face Magpies Crusaders United, while Gold Coast Knights host Sunshine Coast Wanderers in Carrara.

Moreton Bay United will be looking to make it three wins in a row on Sunday afternoon away from home against Logan Lightning, while cellar-dwellers Brisbane Strikers host defending champions Lions FC at Perry Park.

Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, the race for the top eight is heating up with just three points separating eighth and 14th on the ladder.

In a huge Sunday afternoon, 10th-placed Olympic FC play 11th-placed Mitchelton, 12th-placed QAS meet 13th-placed Virginia, while a win for 14th-placed The Gap FC over eighth-placed Western Pride would see the two sides draw level on points.

Elsewhere, Brisbane City and SWQ Thunder meet on Saturday afternoon in Toowoomba, with City in need of a win after losing six in a row.

Peninsula Power have been boosted by the appointment of former Melbourne City W-League assistant coach Alex Smith, who will take the reigns for the first time at home against Logan Lightning.

At the other end of the ladder, Souths United’s Rie Kitano will come up against her former club Gold Coast United, with Souths coming off four consecutive wins and Gold Coast reeling after three losses on the trot.

Fans can watch all First Grade NPL Men’s and Women’s matches live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.

Feature matches

Peninsula Power v Brisbane Roar

After winning their tenth consecutive game last weekend, defending premiers Peninsula Power host their nearest challenger Brisbane Roar on Friday night at A J Kelly Park.

The Power have absolutely dominated the competition in 2021 to sit seven points clear at the top of the ladder with a game in hand.

Veteran midfielder Daniel Cunha and captain Michael McGowan have been strong through the middle while boom striker Andy Pengelly leads the Golden Boot race with 15 goals.

In between some thumping victories, the Power have beaten top five sides Moreton Bay United, Gold Coast Knights and Olympic FC.

This weekend’s match-up against second-placed Roar is another opportunity for the club to show its premiership credentials.

But for the Roar, who are coming off a loss against Moreton Bay and a draw against Olympic, there is no better game to get back to winning ways.

Match details:
Friday 11 June, 7:30pm
A J Kelly Park, Kippa Ring

Moreton Bay United v Lions FC

Moreton Bay United face their toughest test yet against league-leaders Lions FC in a Friday night blockbuster.

Defending champions Lions have been the team to beat in 2021, reaffirming their dominance by dispatching challenger sides such as Gold Coast United and Capalaba FC without conceding a goal.

Both teams are at very different stages of their development, with Rob Askew’s Lions having played together regularly for the past couple of years while Dave Da Silva’s Moreton Bay women more or less started from scratch this season.

Da Silva has done well to bring together an eclectic mix of talented young players including Sharn Freier, Samantha Bambling, Molly Waddingham, Lanni McDougall and Jorja Thomson.

What both teams share is an array of attacking weapons up front. The Golden Boot leaders are Lions’ Shae Connors, on 22 goals, and Moreton Bay’s Samantha Bambling, with 15 goals.

The biggest question mark for Moreton Bay is their defence. The Jets have conceded a whopping 30 goals this season, more than any other team outside of the bottom five.

Lions, who have the most potent attack in the competition, may well exploit that defensive frailty on Friday night.

Match Details:
Friday 11 June, 8:15pm
Wolter Park, Albany Creek

Key players:

Josh Wooley (Peninsula Power): Celebrated his 100th NPL game for Peninsula Power last weekend with the opening goal of the match.

Josh Pin (Eastern Suburbs): The Cairns striker scored a sensational winner for Easts in last weekend’s upset win over Gold Coast Knights, his third goal in as many games.

Jess Dillon (Moreton Bay United): The experienced playmaker has been the rock in the midfield for Moreton Bay this season. Will need a big game this weekend if the Jets are to beat her former club, Lions FC.

Alyssa Cox (QAS): The QAS centre forward, who hails from Chinchilla in South West Queensland, scored a classy winner against Gold Coast United last weekend. One to watch out for this week and for the future.

NPL Men’s Schedule:

Capalaba FC v Eastern Suburbs
Saturday 12 June, 7:15pm
Max Haynes Field, Capalaba

Redlands United v Olympic FC
Saturday 12 June, 7:30pm
Compass Grounds, Cleveland

Magpies Crusaders United v Gold Coast United
Saturday 12 June, 7:30pm
Sologinkin Oval, Mackay

Logan Lightning v Moreton Bay United
Sunday 13 June, 4:00pm
Cornubia Park, Loganholme

Gold Coast Knights v Sunshine Coast Wanderers
Sunday 13 June, 4:00pm
Croatian Sports Centre, Carrara

Brisbane Strikers v Lions FC
Sunday 13 June, 6:00pm
Perry Park, Bowen Hills

NPL Women’s Schedule:

SWQ Thunder v Brisbane City
Saturday 12 June, 3:45pm
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

Peninsula Power v Logan Lightning
Saturday 12 June, 5:00pm
A J Kelly Park, Kippa Ring

Capalaba FC v Eastern Suburbs
Saturday 12 June, 5:00pm
Max Haynes Field, Capalaba

Gold Coast United v Souths United
Saturday 12 June, 6:30pm
Coplick Family Sports Park, Tallebudgera

Virginia United FC v QAS
Sunday 13 June, 3:15pm
Albert Bishop Park, Nundah

Olympic Football FC v Mitchelton FC
Sunday 13 June, 4:30pm
Goodwin Park, Yeronga

The Gap FC v Western Pride
Sunday 13 June, 6:00pm
Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap

BYE – Sunshine Coast Wanderers

Image: Peninsula Power