Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Patrick Kearney

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues is back with a full complement of fixtures this weekend – including a number of match-ups that will impact the top four.

 

Redlands United FC v Brisbane City FC
Friday, May 13 | 7:00PM
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

PS4 NPL Head to Head (all-time)				PS4 NPL Head to Head (at this venue)
Played	RED Wins	CTY Wins	Draws	Played	RED Wins	CTY Wins	Draws
6	2	1	3	3	1	0	2
PS4 NPL Last Meeting			RED won 1-0 at Corporate Travel Management Stadium (August 8, 2015)

The Red Devils are out to keep their pressure on league leaders FNQ Heat – and extend a six match unbeaten run in all competitions – when they host City in the opening match of the round.

Despite flying high in second place, Redlands still sought to strengthen their attacking options last week with the addition of burly number nine Alistair Davis from Brisbane Strikers (see “Redlands Swoop For Davis”).

However, with both sides recording clean sheets in their last starts, the respective defences (and goalkeepers) could well hold sway – with City defender Greg King citing his side’s recent improvements (see “One Game At A Time For City“)

The fixture offers additional intrigue with the two clubs also set to face-off in the Westfield FFA Cup Preliminary Round 6 on Tuesday night.

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials – Trent Sleeman (referee), Renae Coghill (assistant), Joey Lee (assistant), Max Crane (fourth)

Brisbane Roar FC Youth v Gold Coast City FC
Saturday, May 14 | 3:00PM
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redland City

PS4 NPL Head to Head (all-time)				PS4 NPL Head to Head (at this venue)
Played	ROR Wins	GCC Wins	Draws	Played	ROR Wins	GCC Wins	Draws
4	1	2	1	1	0	1	0
PS4 NPL Last Meeting			GCC won 3-1 at Cleveland Showgrounds (August 26, 2015)

Gold Coast City are hoping to keep a hold on their place in the top four and extend their eight-match unbeaten run against Brisbane Roar Youth in Saturday’s early kick-off.

City currently boast the best attacking return in the league so far this year – thanks to the prolific goal scoring form of Benjamin Litfin and the rejuvenated Jarrod Kyle (see “Injury Free Kyle Strikes Right Balance”)

Meanwhile, Young Roar continue to struggle for consistency this season but are currently undefeated at home with two wins and a draw at Cleveland Showgrounds.

Josh McCloughan’s side are also boosted by the addition of Shannon Brady to the match day squad following the completion of the Hyundai A-League season.

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials – Matt Skinner (referee), Patrick Dwyer (assistant), Brad Burton (assistant), Cameron Fawcett (fourth)

FNQ FC Heat v Moreton Bay United FC
Saturday, May 14 | 4:30PM
Endeavour Park, Cairns

PS4 NPL Head to Head (all-time)				PS4 NPL Head to Head (at this venue)
Played	FNQ Wins	MBU Wins	Draws	Played	FNQ Wins	MBU Wins	Draws
6	2	3	1	0	0	0	0
PS4 NPL Last Meeting			0-0 draw at Wolter Park (August 1, 2015)

It’s out with the old and in with the new – or is it?! – when current league leaders Heat take on the defending Champions Jets in Cairns.

Heat continue to dispel the doubters with just one defeat so far this season and a league best defence that successfully shut-out the usually prolific Strikers in their last league start.

Conversely, Jets continue to discover the difficulties of going back-to-back, sitting in sixth after succumbing to a late equaliser from Pride last week to extend a three match winless run.

As last year’s benchmark side, the target on Jets’ back will only be bigger this weekend – with a win for Heat likely to make them unquestionable favourites for this year’s title.

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials – David Wiebe (referee), Michael Bozhoff (assistant), Chris Doherty-Fisher (assistant), Chris Dawson (fourth)

SWQ Thunder FC v Western Pride FC
Saturday, May 14 | 5:00PM
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

PS4 NPL Head to Head (all-time)				PS4 NPL Head to Head (at this venue)
Played	SWQ Wins	WST Wins	Draws	Played	SWQ Wins	WST Wins	Draws
4	0	4	0	1	0	1	0
PS4 NPL Last Meeting			WST won 7-0 at Commonwealth Oval (May 31, 2015)

Without a win in their past four games, Pride are hoping to gain some much needed momentum when they head up the range to take on Thunder.

The Ipswich-club fought hard but were fortunate to escape with a last-gasp draw away to Jets last weekend, and will know they need to deliver a more complete performance if they are to move out of the lower reaches of the table.

They will fancy their chances against a Thunder side that has come off the boil to slip to eighth in recent weeks – with three straight league defeats tarnishing their impressive start to the year.

However, Thunder will be motivated by overturning their unwanted record of being on the losing end in four previous league meetings against Pride.

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - Lara Smith (referre), Alex Hohn (assistant), Ethan Quinlan (assistant), Sarah Willington (fourth)

Brisbane Strikers FC v Northern Fury
Saturday, May 14 | 6:00PM
Perry Park, Brisbane

PS4 NPL Head to Head (all-time)				PS4 NPL Head to Head (at this venue)
Played	STR Wins	NFU Wins	Draws	Played	STR Wins	NFU Wins	Draws
6	1	3	2	3	0	1	2
PS4 NPL Last Meeting			0-0 draw (due to cancellation) at Perry Park (August 29, 2015)

Strikers are looking to secure their first ever win against Fury at Perry Park when the sides meet for the first time in the capital since 2014.

Despite a loss to Heat in their last league outing, Strikers are one of the form sides of the competition this year but coach Kevin A’herne-Evans has promised his side will still be on guard against the winless Fury (see “Strikers Won’t Take Fury Lightly”)

Fury have netted once and conceded ten in two visits to the capital this year and will again be up against it with Jonathon Bagley, Joseph Thornton and Michael Eisenhut all absent from the named travelling squad.

However, history shows Fury have often had the measure of Strikers and, with four home matches in a row following this fixture, a win – or even a plucky draw – could be just the spur Fury’s season needs to get back on track.

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - David Walsh (referee), Joey Lee (assistant), Isidro Terol Crespo (assistant), Ryan Mooney (fourth)

Sunshine Coast FC v Olympic FC
Sunday, May 15 | 5:00PM
Kawana Sports Precinct, Sunshine Coast

PS4 NPL Head to Head (all-time)				PS4 NPL Head to Head (at this venue)
Played	SUN Wins	OLY Wins	Draws	Played	SUN Wins	OLY Wins	Draws
6	0	6	0	1	0	1	0
PS4 NPL Last Meeting			OLY won 2-0 at Goodwin Park (June 28, 2015)

Fire will be confident of furthering their recent upsurge in form as they look to record their first ever win over Olympic in the national second tier this weekend.

The Sunshine Coast side has been on a roll of late – rising to eighth in the league standings after book-ending a last start league win over Thunder with their first ever wins in the Westfield FFA Cup.

However, their opponents will be somewhat of an unpredictable property – with the recent week-off coming at the perfect time for new coach Terry Kirkham to start remoulding the team to his liking.

It promises to offer an intriguing conclusion to the round.

CLICK HERE for the official Match Centre

Match Officials - Zac Keenan (referee), Ben Cook (assistant), Tarran Richards (assistant), Charles Moores (fourth)