NPL QLD Men’s Round 10 Review

Thibault Berthier \\ Photo Credit: Kylie Wells / Peninsula Power 1684227099,1684227397

NPL Queensland Men’s Round 10 action provided a shake-up at the top with three sides that started the weekend inside the competition’s top four dropping points over the course of the weekend.

The league’s last standing unbeaten start came to a halt when Rochedale defeated league leaders Gold Coast United 4-0 at Underwood Park on Saturday night.

Rovers wide man Mitch Roberts caused all kinds of problems for the United defence with his electric pace, netting a quickfire brace to put the home side 2-0 ahead against a side that had previously conceded just twice all season inside the opening 15 minutes.

Roberts then turned provider when his cross found Marek Madle who finished at the near post in the 55^th minute before a pinpoint Andy Thompson free-kick rounded out the scoring in Rovers third win from as many outings under interim Head Coach Scott MacNicol.

Moreton Bay, who started the weekend in second position also tasted defeat going down 2-1 to Peninsula Power at AJ Kelly Park on Saturday evening.

A stunning long-range Will Edmiston effort had the Jets in front inside the opening ten minutes but Power responded almost immediately with a Josh Woolley finish at the near post in the 13^th minute.

Woolley then scored the matchwinner in the 57^th minute directly from a corner kick to seal all three points in the first match of Aaron Philp’s return to the club as Head Coach.

Gold Coast Knights moved to within two points of top spot with a commanding 3-0 victory over Olympic in a rematch of last season’s Grand Final at the Croatian Sports Centre on Sunday night.

Bradden Inman opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he rounded Josh Render and finished into an empty net before Ante Poljak rounded out the result with a second half brace including a stunning free-kick from a near impossible angle.

Sunday’s defeat leaves Olympic, who are yet to pick up a point under Chris Grossman bottom of the league six points adrift of safety.

Lions slipped out of the four after being denied all three points at the death in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Eastern Suburbs on Sunday evening.

An own goal combined with strikes from Andy Pengelly and Matt Ridenton had Lions 3-1 ahead at the break before Easts clawed their way back into the contest with through Raffaele Velardo and Keanu Tuart goals.

Immediately after the equaliser Pengelly, who is now the league’s second highest goal scorer on eight reinstated Lions lead with a deft chipped finish.

But it wasn’t to be for Darren Simes side who are now winless in three with Easts skipper Alex Barnett popping up with a powerful close-range finish to seal a share of the spoils for the visitors.

Brisbane City remain climbed into fourth position after claiming an emphatic 5-1 win over Sunshine Coast Wanderers at Imperial Corp Stadium on Saturday evening.

Jheison Macuace bagged a brace while Kye Bolton, Matt Jones and Ginjiro Chiba were also on target for free-scoring city who have scored a league high 27 goals so far this season.

In Saturday’s late kick off Young Roar picked up a hard fought three points with a 1-0 win over Redlands United at AJ Kelly Park.

Thomas Waddingham netted his fourth goal of the season and the games decisive goal in the seventh minute when he put the finishing touch on a swift counter attack from Eoghan Baker’s side.