The women take centre stage this weekend in the National Premier Leagues as several clubs jostle for a spot in the top seven before the season splits on 11 July.
The top seven and the QAS will then play off for the premiership and a spot in the finals series, while the bottom nine clubs battle for promotion to the NPL in 2022.
Round 14 kicks off on Saturday afternoon in Toowoomba as SWQ Thunder take on defending premiers Gold Coast United.
Virginia United will be looking for a better performance against Souths United after four consecutive losses, while Peninsula Power have a tough outing against Olympic FC at Goodwin Park.
Sixth-placed Eastern Suburbs will be looking to continue their rise up the ladder against Mitchelton FC, who will need a win in order to keep their hopes of a top seven spot alive.
Another club eyeing off the final seven is Sunshine Coast Wanderers. The Buderim-based side are currently eighth on the ladder but have not tasted victory in several weeks and face a difficult task this Sunday against Capalaba FC.
It’s a big weekend for the QAS, who are coming off two strong wins but face their biggest test of the season on Saturday night against league-leaders Lions FC.
Moreton Bay United have a much-needed bye this weekend following a horror run of injuries. Defender Flo MacIntyre (broken fibula) and striker Sharn Freier (ACL) are both out for the season, while top goal scorer Samantha Bambling is also under an injury cloud.
Meanwhile, Logan Lightning and The Gap FC face off on Sunday afternoon with both sides looking to build momentum for the second half of the season.
Fans can watch all First Grade NPL Women’s matches live on NPL.TV, free for Australian residents.
Feature match:
Western Pride v Brisbane City
The match of the round is in Ipswich between Western Pride and Brisbane City, two clubs that are close together on points but have been on very different trajectories in recent weeks.
City have not won a game in two months and only narrowly avoided their seventh straight loss in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against SWQ Thunder.
After going a goal down against Thunder, City winger Annalese Holzworth came off the bench to level the scores in the last ten minutes, bagging her first goal of the season and Brisbane City’s first goal in seven matches.
It was the final game in charge for City head coach Skie Hanifin, who was relieved of his duties midweek.
Hanifin’s assistant John Duggan has been tasked with turning City’s season around, starting this Sunday against a Western Pride outfit that has won two and drawn one in the past three weeks.
Pride were too good for The Gap last weekend, with sharpshooter Abby Lloyd celebrating her 25th birthday by netting a first half hat-trick to seal a 3-2 win away from home.
Pride have risen from 12th to seventh place on the ladder in the past three weeks, and a win this weekend could see them move into the top six.
But such is the congestion in the middle third of the table that a win for 11th-placed City would see them leapfrog Pride and rocket back into contention for a top seven spot.
Match Details
Sunday 20 June, 5:00pm
Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich
Players to watch:
Abbey Lloyd (Western Pride): Lloyd has been crucial for the Pride over the past few weeks, scoring five goals in her past two outings.
Jolianne Cruz (QAS): Scored two goals for the QAS in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Virginia United, including a spectacular late winner from range.
Annalese Holzworth (Brisbane City): Saved City’s blushes last weekend with a sensational equaliser, earning her a Goal of the Week nomination.
Allira Toby (Olympic FC): The W-League star scored one and created another in Olympic’s 3-0 win over Mitchelton last weekend.
Schedule:
SWQ Thunder v Gold Coast United
Saturday 19 June, 3:45pm
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Virginia United v Souths United
Saturday 19 June, 6:00pm
Albert Bishop Park, Nundah
Olympic FC v Peninsula Power
Saturday 19 June, 6:15pm
Goodwin Park, Yeronga
Mitchelton FC v Eastern Suburbs
Saturday 19 June, 6:15pm
Teralba Park, Mitchelton
Lions FC v QAS
Saturday 19 June, 7:00pm
Lions Stadium, Richlands
Sunshine Coast Wanderers v Capalaba FC
Sunday 20 June, 4:15pm
Ballinger Park, Buderim
Logan Lightning v The Gap
Sunday 20 June, 4:15pm
Cornubia Park, Loganholme
BYE – Moreton Bay United