The halfway point of the most unpredictable 2023 NPL Queensland Men’s season in recent memory is here with the weekend’s Round 11 action.
Three of the league’s established ‘big four’ find themselves outside the finals positions with Peninsula Power and Olympic as far down the standings as tenth and twelfth respectively while the likes of Gold Coast United and Moreton Bay take their places at the pointy end.
Round 11 action gets underway on Friday night with a battle between a pair of local rivals who currently occupy the two relegation spots in Eastern Suburbs and Olympic FC.
Both sides will be desperate to pick up three points and move closer to safety when they meet at Heath Park on Friday night.
Easts will take some confidence after snapping a three-match losing streak with a last ditch 4-4 draw against defending Premiers Lions at Luxury Paints Stadium last weekend while Olympic are yet to pick up a point under new Head Coach, Chris Grossman.
On Saturday defending Premiers Lions, who currently sit fifth will look to cut the gap between themselves and third placed Moreton Bay when they go head-to-head at Wolter Park.
The Jets look to bounce back after going down 2-1 to Peninsula Power last weekend while Lions aim to arrest a run that has seen them go without a win in their last three outings.
Two of the league’s inform sides are set to battle it out at the Croatian Sports Centre on Saturday evening when Gold Coast Knights play host to Rochedale.
Knights are on a nine-match unbeaten run in the league heading into Saturday’s Round 11 clash while Rochedale are three from three since Scott MacNicol took charge of the side, including a 4-0 demolition of the previously undefeated league leading Gold Coast United last weekend.
In Saturday’s final match seventh placed Redlands United will host tenth placed Peninsula Power at Compass Grounds.
Power climbed out of the relegation zone after winning their last two matches on the bounce including a 2-1 triumph over Moreton Bay last weekend in their first match under returning Head Coach Aaron Philp.
Redlands meanwhile were left to lament chances not taken when their two-match winning run was ended with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Young Roar last weekend.
On Sunday league leaders Gold Coast United lock horns with Brisbane City in a top four battle at Coplicks Sports Park.
United aim to return to the winners circle after having their unbeaten start ended in an emphatic 4-0 defeat on the road to Rochedale last weekend while City, who defeated Sunshine Coast Wanderers 5-1 in their last outing can move to within three points of United with a win on Sunday.
In Sunday’s other match sixth placed Young Roar take on ninth placed Sunshine Coast Wanderers at AJ Kelly Park.
Roar, who have won three of their last five in the league can move to as high as fourth with a win while Sunshine Coast Wanderers look to snap a five-match losing run.
You can watch every minute of the weekend’s NPL Queensland action live and free on FQTV or the Football Queensland YouTube channel.