Whitsunday Miners v FNQ Bulls, Wanderers Park, Beaconsfield, Saturday 19 March, 7.00 pm
The Miners earned a highly creditable 1-1 draw away to the QAS in their first Hyundai QSL game under new coach Graham Harvey in Round 1 but, while the gaffer was happy enough with that result, he will be looking for nothing less than a win at home. New signing Jamie White was on the spot last week to open his scoring account for the Miners from a set-piece and that was probably a good warning for the Bulls, who will find themselves up against a side with plenty of physical presence who are being infused with a new sense of ambition and confidence by Harvey. The Bulls’ postponed Round 1 fixture won’t have helped them to be in top physical shape for what looms as a testing assignment, but the attacking philosophy of coach Peter Tokesi and the Bulls’ already potent forward line, which this season should be bolstered further by the return of prolific goal scorer Steven Cater, will ensure that a Miners defence led by Troy Mundy gets a few tests of its own. Spectators at this game could be in for some fireworks.




Brisbane Strikers v Queensland Academy of Sports, Perry Park, Albion, Saturday 19 March, 7.00 pm

Having succumbed to a defeat at the hands of their old nemesis, the Sunshine Coast Fire, at Perry Park in Round 1 the Strikers are likely to be desperate to atone in front of their supporters to get their 2011 points tally underway with three against the QAS. That might be easier said than done against a QAS team who have had a further week’s training together to integrate players from the Brisbane Roar youth squad who joined the QAS boys only last week. Despite conceding the only goal of the game last Saturday the Strikers were defensively solid, but they lacked a cutting edge going forward and coach David Large will have been working on that facet of their game in training this week. The Strikers will be strengthened by the return of forward Wayne Knipe, but they will need to find an extra gear this week to cope with the pace and fitness of their younger opponents who will be striving for the Academy’s first-ever win against the Strikers. This one is likely to be another tight game.

NQ McDonald’s Razorbacks v Sunshine Coast Fire, Brolga Park, Townsville, Saturday 19 March, 7.00 pm

Probably the game of the round, this fixture offers the Razorbacks the chance to avenge their 2010 preliminary final defeat in extra time by the Fire – a game they had in their keeping until twelve minutes before full time. The Razorbacks have begun this season in the right kind of form to do exactly that. Not even the hassles of a delayed flight could throw them out of their stride last week as they got their season underway with a 5-0 shellacking of Bundaberg Spirit, with Robin Edwards netting a double and new midfielder Jesse Consalvo generally running amok. The Razorbacks will be looking to impress in front of their home fans and give the Townsville football community something to smile about after the recent dumping of North Queensland Fury from the A-League. But they will meet a Sunshine Coast Fire team riding high on confidence after beating the Strikers last week, when their defensive line of Greig Henslee, James Stinson, Takanori Sato and Ryan Smith was in stingy form while the Fire gave their new, short-passing style of play its first serious outing with good effect. If the Razorbacks can carry last week’s form into this game and the Fire continue to develop their new game an entertaining game is in prospect.

Gold Coast Stars v Capricorn Cougars, Sunday 20 March, 2.00 pm

The Gold Coast Stars make their QSL debut in this game after having their Round 1 fixture against the FNQ Bulls postponed last week. On all indications to date, the Stars will be a competitive unit who will be founded on an experienced defence featuring none other than Socceroos legend Craig Moore and former Brisbane Striker and Palm Beach player John Costello. The Hilton brothers, Levi and Matt, will help provide midfield grunt and strikepower. They will face a Cougars side coming off the back of a 4-2 home loss to Southern Cross United, in which they went 4-0 down before rallying with two second half goals created by livewire winger Chris Swain. The Cougars will be boosted by the return of Michael Cay, but will need to cut down an error rate that cost them dearly last week if they are to spoil the Stars’ first outing.

Southern Cross United v Bundaberg Spirit, Sunday 20 March, 3.00 pm at Perry Park, Albion

Last weekend’s 4-2 win over the Cougars was just the start that Southern Cross needed to build on the confidence established by beating the Strikers in the Clem Jones Shield final. They will be chomping at the bit to get at a Bundaberg team who suffered a horrible start at home against the Razorbacks in Round 1, conceding four goals in the first half to be out of the contest by the interval. In contrast, Southern Cross never looked like losing in Rockhampton. With wingers Daniel Tresoro and Julian Zullo leading the charge, Southern Cross raced to a 4-0 lead before having their lead cut back to two late in the game. If these two get going again and provide quality ammunition for striker Reggie Davani the Spirit might be in for another tough afternoon


http://qldsl.com.au/index.php?display=item&id=472