United v SWQ Thunder – NPL Qld Rd11 Preview
United head into Saturday’s re-scheduled Rd11 match against SWQ Thunder looking to make it three wins on the bounce.
Back to back victories against Easts and Brisbane City reaffirm that United can match it with all comers in the NPL Queensland competition.
Saturday’s visitors are flirting with the relegation spots, so a sharp performance against Toowoomba will be front of mind as the squad looks to avoid complacency against teams in the bottom half of the table and also strives to build further momentum in the back half of the season.
Sunday’s gutsy 1-0 win over City was United’s 9th of the 2019 campaign and saw the Men eclipse the return for the full 2018 season, a fine effort from Kristian Rees’s squad with 13 matches left to play this season.
United player to watch
A stalwart on the right hand side of United’s defence, Tyler Wagstaffe continues to impress defensively and in attack. The right back has scored two goals in 2019 in his 16 appearances, bettering his goal return in his two previous seasons in the NPL – 1 goal for Olympic FC in 2017 and a solitary goal for United against this weekend’s visitors in a 2018 campaign disrupted by injury. A veteran of NPL at just 22 with over fifty first team appearances for United and Olympic FC, Wagstaffe’s pace and big motor guarantees that he will be ever present up and down the right touchline against the Thunder.
Tyler Wagstaffe on target against Easts in Rd18 (Sportspics)
Thunder at a glance
The Toowoomba based club had a solid 2018 finishing 7th on the NPL ladder, 3 spots higher than United. But their 2019 season form has not matched their 2018 return so far with the Thunder currently 12th, just above the red zone on goal difference. Telling for the visitors is a poor away record with only 1 point picked up away from home from a draw against the Strikers in Rd1.
Thunder’s 2019 coach, Thiago Koslowski, still has plenty of work to do if he’s to salvage something from the season and he’ll be looking to the attacking threat of top scorer Anthony Grant up front and the experience of captain Jacob Bigby to steer the ship to safety.
Past Encounters
The spoils were shared in 2018, a win apiece. United got out of the blocks better in Rd12 in Toowoomba, Brandon Reeves and Tyler Wagstaffe with a goal each in the 4-2 win. In the reverse fixture the visitors took the points at Station Reserve in Rd25 with a 3-2 win.
Match Details
National Premier Leagues Queensland Round 11
Gold Coast United v SWQ Thunder
Saturday, 8 June 2019
Kick-off at 6pm
Coplick Family Sports Park
How to watch
Can’t make it to Tallebudgera, the match will be live streamed on Football Queensland’s youtube channel.