Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Patrick Kearney

The Premiership was decided but the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals picture still remains a myriad of possibilities after Round 21.

Strikers Win First PS4 NPL Queensland Premiership

Northern Fury FC – 1 (Jonathon BAGLEY 90’+2)
Brisbane Strikers FC – 6 (Rhys MEREDITH 27’ 29’ 30’ 44’, Fraser HILLS 36’, Jonti RICHTER 75’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/2aSeFtD

Brisbane Strikers have claimed the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2016 Premiership title in style after rolling Northern Fury 6-1 at Townsville Sports Reserve.

Marksman Rhys Meredith struck four goals in a blistering first-half display from the Strikers, which saw Fraser Hills also find the back of the net to effectively seal the win before half-time.

The Premiership win is Strikers first in the national second tier and first Premiership title since the Queensland State League 2012 season.

The former National Soccer League club will now represent Queensland in the end of season PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series against the as yet undetermined PlayStation 4 NPL Capital Football Premiers in September.

For Fury, the result extends a horror run of results, with this year’s wooden spooners now winless in 21 games.

Battling Jets Crush Heat's Title Dream

Moreton Bay United FC – 1 (Royce BROWNLIE p.60’)
FNQ FC Heat – 1 (Christopher O’HARE 84’ )

Match Report – http://bit.ly/2aPokyC

FNQ Heat’s PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Premiership dream must wait for another year after drawing 1-1 with Moreton Bay United at Wolter Park.

Heat needed a win to take their Premiership challenge into the final round of the regular season, however, despite a late equaliser from Christopher O'Hare they proved unable to find the winner.

The Jets’ battling display marked an ironic twist as the club last year foiled Strikers in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Premiership and Championship race.

No Splitting City & Redlands

Brisbane City FC – 2 (own goal 31’, Nathan BIRD 45’)
Redlands United FC – 2 (Graham FYFE 28’ 70’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/2b5DZwg

The race for the top four will come down to the wire after Brisbane City and Redlands United drew 2-2 at Corporate Travel Management Stadium.

Both sides were left to rue squandered chances to steal the win in the final minutes – with the misses likely to prove telling after next week’s final round of the regular season.

The result extends City’s unbeaten run to six straight matches, with the capital city club holding on to fourth place on goal difference over Redlands.

Pride Shut-Out Thunder

Western Pride FC – 3 (Nigel DABINYABA 15’, Joseph DUCKWORTH 38’, Mitchell BIRD 88’)
SWQ Thunder FC – 0

Match Report - http://bit.ly/2aPAlnE

Western Pride wrapped up their first league double of the year with a solid 3-0 win over SWQ Thunder at Briggs Road Sporting Complex.

The result marks a second straight win for Pride and extends their perfect run of results over Thunder to six straight wins over the past three seasons.

However, Thunder still hold a two-point advantage over Pride to retain tenth spot heading into the final round of the season.

City Down Young Roar To Seal Finals Berth

Gold Coast City FC – 2 (Justyn MCKAY 44’, Benjamin LITFIN 83’)
Brisbane Roar FC Youth – 1 (Harrison SAWYER p.38’)

Match report – http://bit.ly/2brWCMI

Gold Coast City are returning to finals football following a backs-to-the-wall 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar Youth at Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre.

City leading goal scorer Benjamin Litfin’s seventeenth goal of the season secured the hosts the win in the closing stages of a contest that saw the visitors craft the bulk of the chances.

City and Heat are now guaranteed to meet in the opening week of the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series - the first time City have been involved in the post-season since their all-conquering 2014 campaign.

Young Roar’s second straight defeat means the team will finish in the bottom-half of the table for the first time since their debut season, also in 2014.

Olympic Douse Fire In Eight-Goal Thriller

Olympic FC - 5 (Sam CRONIN 1’, Liam O’BRYAN 43’, Daniel BYRNE 63’, Kristen WATERS 68’, Youeil SHOL 81’)
Sunshine Coast FC - 3 (own goal 47’, Alexander WARRILOW 55’, Jeremy STEWART 66’)

Match Report - http://bit.ly/2aSnctF

Olympic FC remain in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals hunt after a pulsating 5-3 victory over Sunshine Coast FC at Goodwin Park.

Olympics’ victory means they stay in sixth for now, but are level on points with both fourth-placed Brisbane City and fifth-placed Redlands United with one round remaining.

Fires’ loss is their fourth in a row and sees them remain in ninth on the table.