There was a host of FFA Cup fixtures on Saturday with two Queensland sides booking their ticket to the Round of 32, while the 'final four' in Northern NSW has been decided after an enthralling day of preliminary round action.
QUEENSLAND
Lions FC and Cairns FC booked their ticket to the national round draw after emerging victorious in Saturday evening’s FFA Cup preliminary round fixtures in Queensland.
It was the far-north Queenslanders who stole the headlines thanks to a stunning comeback win over Magpies Crusaders United at Barlow Park.
Cairns FC found themselves down 3-0 at half time thanks to goals from United's Michael Lyall, Lewis Farquhar and Kyle Markham.
But a sensational turnaround in the second stanza saw Joshua Taylor register a brace, while efforts from Johnson Slotemaker, Chris O’Hare and Harrison Corica secured Cairns’ passage through to the national round draw.
Meanwhile, National Premier Leagues’ Queensland outfit Lions FC powered their way through to the Round of 32 with a dominant 6-0 win over an in-form Peninsula Power side at Lions Stadium.
A Shaun Carlos hattrick led the way for Lions who completed the rout through Jheison Macuace’s double and a strike from Mitchell Hore.
Second-tier side Peninsula Power had come into the encounter on the back of an 18-match unbeaten run and had previously knocked off 2017 NPL QLD Premiers Brisbane Strikers 3-0 in the previous round, but were no match for Lions on the night.
Brisbane City take on Olympic FC tonight at 4pm while Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast Knights are also in action at 4.30pm in the two remaining preliminary round fixtures.
NORTHERN NSW
The final four in the National Premier League’s NNSW FFA Cup draw has been decided after a thrilling day of preliminary round action at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday.
Hamilton Olympic, Broadmeadow Magic, Lambton Jaffas and Charlestown City Blues all registered wins and are now only one win away from entering the FFA Cup national round draw.
Hamilton Olympic were first to book their play-off spot after defeating Edgeworth Eagles 3-2 in the morning. Olympic’s Jacob Bailey provided the match winning strike ten minutes from full time to ensure Edgeworth miss the Round of 32 for the first time in four years.
Olympic will meet Broadmeadow Magic in a local derby after Kale Bradbury’s brace eased Magic past Adamstown Rosebud. Luke Virgili added a third in the second half for Magic, who enter Round 7 for the fourth time. A date and venue for that clash has yet to be confirmed.
In the third match of the day, Lambton Jaffas were far too good for Football Mid North Coast (FMNC) outfit Port United and ran out 8-0 victors. Lambton’s Ben Hay sent the side on their way with an opening half brace before Bren Hammel and Tom Waller added third and fourth goals before the break. The Jaffas piled on another four in the second stanza with Hammel clinching a double, while Nathan Verity, Finn Pariss and Marcus Duncan all got on the scoresheet.
Lambton are set to take on Charlestown City Blues in the second and final play-off fixture after the Blues hit Boambee Bombers for six to round off the day’s play. Charlestown’s 6-0 triumph over the FMNC side saw Scott Smith claim a hattrick to give the team their first chance of cracking the national stage.
Charlestown will host Lambton at Lisle Carr Oval on Wednesday, 13th of June, 7pm.
