GPS First XI football: Team of the Week, best first touch players revealed

Which players shone in round seven of the GPS First XI football competition? See the Team of the Week and discover who has the best first touch here.

GPS first XI football action in 2023. Picture, John Gass

Nudgee College marched a step closer to premiership glory as round seven of GPS First XI football unfolded.

With a 3-2 win over Churchie at the weekend, Nudgee had one hand on the trophy.

Ipswich Grammar, just one win behind the eight ball, were chasing in hot pursuit.

Unbeaten Toowoomba Grammar were also still in the hunt but they face the ultimate test against Nudgee at Ross Oval on June 10. What a clash it promises to be.

ROUND 6 TEAM OF THE WEEK; MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS

In other results over the weekend, Gregory Terrace and Brisbane Grammar could not be split (2-2) while Ipswich Grammar beat BBC 5-2 and a team effort from Toowoomba Grammar dealt Southport a 3-0 loss.

But in a tense game at Churchie, Nudgee finished on top after a dominant first half set up a crucial 3-2 victory.

Churchie's Quinn MacNicol headlines our GPS First XI football Players of the Week.

Nudgee had all cylinders firing the first stanza, creating chances and controlling possession - It took 20 minutes for them to score through a well hit free-kick.

Churchie returned the favour just shy of half time courtesy of Luke O’Sullivan.

The Churchie captain, nailing a penalty goal to equalise the scores heading into the break.

In the second half, Churchie would rue two missed chances that were bread and butter on any other day.

Indeed the stakes were high and Churchie could not capitalise, Nudgee storming back with two goals to seal the game.

Churchie, scoring a consolation penalty goal in the last minute to settle the scores at 3-2.

So who were the Players of the Week?

GPS First XI football action. Picture courtesy of George Galanos.

Quinn MacNicol (Churchie)

MacNicol was Churchie’s best on ground, the promising 15-year-old giving Churchie supporters plenty to look forward to in years to come.

Every time he had the ball, MacNicol would fearlessly attack the Nudgee defence and you had a sense that each occasion would present a goal scoring opportunity.

“A very bright future ahead of him,” praised Churchie head of football Alex Rados.

GPS First XI football action. Picture courtesy of George Galanos.

Arthur De Lima (Nudgee)

De Lima’s work ethic set the tone in both attack and defence and when you throw in his unearthly desire to win then you have a standout player integral to the success of his team.

ROUND 5 TEAM OF THE WEEK: HIGH IQ PLAYERS

Declan Parkinson (Nudgee)

Parkinson played a key role in shielding the defence from a dangerous Churchie attack.

Dunia Kambona (Nudgee)

Kambona was a bit of an unsung hero at the weekend, his ability to switch the point of attack proving key for his teammates.

GPS First XI football action. Picture: George Galanos.

Gregory Terrace shared spoils with Brisbane Grammar 2-2

Kobi Griffiths and Will Gatehouse (Brisbane Grammar)

Brisbane Grammar had a stellar first half and these two led the charge with a goal each.

Gatehouse, leading the forward line and working hard to hold the ball up to threaten the goal.

GPS First XI football action. Picture courtesy of George Galanos.

Ipswich Grammar 5 beat BBC 5-2

Jack Pye (Ipswich)

Pye was a defensive powerhouse, making vital contributions at the front and back.

Don’t forget he scored a decisive header.

GPS First XI football action. Picture courtesy of George Galanos.

Dan Lindsay (Ipswich)

Lindsay was safe as houses at fullback and you can’t ask much more from someone coming back from a broken collarbone.

Slowly proving himself as the best one-on-one defender in the GPS competition.

RELATED LINKS

GPS FOOTBALL ROUND 4 TEAM OF THE WEEK

GPS FOOTBALL ROUND 3 TEAM OF THE WEEK

GPS FOOTBALL ROUND 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK

Oliver Purcell (Ipswich)

Purcell was the king of effort on Saturday, and there was no one more deserving of a goal than him.

He created countless chances out of nothing.

GPS First XI football action. Picture courtesy of George Galanos.

Toowoomba Grammar 3 beat Southport nil

Jaydahn Hearn (Toowoomba)

In an impressive team performance from Toowoomba, perhaps their best of the season thus far, Hearn was the stand out.

Loaded with potential, the hard working Hearn delivered against Southport. He led the front line and sparked chances with his vision and movement.

GPS first XI football action. Picture, John Gass

Max Peereboom (TSS)

Peereboom brought it on defence, showing out in a display of compsure from the back.

James Greenup (TSS)

Greenup complimented the defensive pressure of Peereboom with determination in the midfield.

He didn’t stop moving once.

BEST TOUCH

Quinn MacNicol (Churchie)

He made our Players of the Week and he also has the best touch in the team.

He has very close control of the ball, uses his body well and his agility and change of speed allows him to evade defenders with ease.

RELATED LINKS

GPS FOOTBALL ROUND 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK

GPS FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ethan Rigby (Nudgee)

Rigby’s first touch and awareness allows him to keep possession and wriggle out of would-be challenges.

Easy pick.

GPS First XI football action. Picture: George Galanos.

Matt Surgeon (TSS)

Surgeon pronounced himself as The Southport School’s best first touch player when his one-on-one skills on Saturday featured a deft left foot touch.

Richard Dean (TGS)

A finisher who rarely makes a mistake in close, Dean takes the crown as Toowoomba’s best first touch player.

He has perfected multiple tap-in goals this year to prove it.

Elias Ali Sheme (Brisbane State High)

Sheme not only has the best first touch but he is Brisbane State High’s most improved player of the year.

Always a threat with the ball at his feet, Sheme is as dangerous as they come.