Caloundra Bounce Back with Convincing Win in Football Queensland Premier League 2

Caloundra FC registered a resounding 5-2 victory over Pine Hills in the round 3 match of the Football Queensland Premier League 2, played at Meridan Plains, Queensland. This win followed their narrow 3-1 loss to Moreton City Excelsior in round 2, marking a significant bounce-back for the team in the early stages of the 2026 season.

The game was fast-paced from the outset, with Riley Campbell opening the scoring for Caloundra in just the second minute. Pine Hills swiftly responded through Aaron Doherty two minutes later and then took the lead with Alex Witte's goal in the 11th minute. However, Caloundra fought back quickly with Darryl Barton equalizing in the 13th minute and then taking the lead with his second goal in the 27th minute. The match stood at 3-2 in Caloundra's favor at halftime.

The second half saw Caloundra extend their advantage with Jake Debbage scoring in the 51st minute and Mackenar Bradfield adding the fifth goal in the 90th minute. Pine Hills managed to pull one back late on but couldn't halt the momentum of the home team.

Caloundra captain Kaine Frew reflected on the victory, emphasizing a cautious but optimistic outlook: "Two wins from three games," he said. "I think we'll probably be in the top four now. Not a bad start. It's still very early days. Yeah, you can't get too ahead of yourselves. I think you've just got to take it week by week for the moment."

Pine Hills assistant coach Daniel Cunha acknowledged the competitive first half but lamented defensive lapses that cost them dearly. "It was a pretty even game, first half," Cunha said. "We conceded three goals. Lazy goals, in our opinion. But we managed to bounce back with two goals. Managed to stay in the game, but yeah, second half with early conceded goals, so that was it for us."

Looking ahead, Caloundra is scheduled to host Mitchellton on Saturday, aiming to build on their positive form, while Pine Hills will travel to Samford seeking to regroup after the challenging defeat.

Caloundra's mixed start to the season, with initial success in the Australia Cup preliminaries followed by a loss and then a strong win, paints a picture of a team finding its rhythm and aiming to establish itself firmly in the top tiers of the league. Their attacking prowess and resilience will be key as they progress through the competition.