Capital Leagues Weekly Preview
There are some big games in all divisions this weekend to whet our appetites. Cap 1 has 3 v 1, Cap 2 has 1 v 2 and 3 v 5, Cap 3 has 2 v 3 and 5 v 1 while Cap 4 has 3 v 4. So let the games begin! CAPITAL LEAGUE 1 Match of the Round – Mt Gravatt v Taringa Rovers The Hawks have won their past three matches and have quietly crept up the ladder, keeping a low profile. That stealth has now been blown away, as they sit 3rd and take on league leaders Taringa at Dittmer Park. Although conceding 12 goals to date, they have had four clean sheets in seven matches, so they concede none or plenty. Rovers disposed of North Star last weekend and have the best defence in the league (conceding five in eight matches). If Rovers score first, then it could be curtains for the Hawks. Brisbane Knights v The Gap Cup giant-killers Knights came crashing back to earth after a 1-5 thumping from Southside Eagles. The Knights haven’t kept a clean sheet yet this season and their matches have generally been high scoring affairs. They come up against The Gap who were beaten last start. The Gators will be looking to turn that around as quickly as possible to stay in the premiership/finals hunt. I think The Gap in this one. North Star v North Pine The battle of the North(s). Star have tailed away after a bright start to the season, not having won in their last five and have slid to 9th on the table (although only four points from 4th). North Pine rebounded to beat Wolves and sit in that 4th place. The Gorillas to get up. Southside Eagles v Wolves FC Well I said it would happen, tip against Eagles and they would win. This will be a test of whether they can maintain that form. Wolves have slipped further (now 10th!) after the loss to North Pine and need to “turn the corner”. I’ll go for Eagles (and presume they will lose). Moggill v Bayside Utd Moggill had the weekend off and maybe that will help them? They have been competitive in recent weeks, so a refreshed team will look forward to this one. Bayside were beaten by Mt Gravatt at home, so won’t be happy with that. I expect Bayside to come out on top. Acacia Ridge v UQ FC Maybe Ridge do have the “wood” on The Gap (as suggested last week) after beating them? UQ had a break last weekend, so will be rested. The Students’ four losses have been by a single goal so they are competitive. Still can’t see anything but a Ridge win.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 2 Match of the Round – Centenary Stormers v Annerley 1st v 2nd. Second best attack v best defence. Both have lost only one match. Stormers got up over Pine Rivers but not by the margin expected. They were made to work hard for the win, coming back from a goal down at half-time. Shoheel Khan didn’t score for the first time this season! Annerley also had to work for their win over Oxley with their 3rd goal coming in added time. James Gorrie has 10 goals for Annerley and also missed the back of the net last weekend. Safe bet would be to say a draw, but I will tip the Stormers. Virginia Utd v Western Spirit Virginia are the only unbeaten team left in Cap 2 (having only played six matches). Last week’s match was postponed due to the Roar match, so they will be champing at the bit to get going again after a two week break. Spirit slugged out a 0-0 draw with Toowong and are sitting just outside the top four. Virginia have beaten the current top two so look to have the goods to challenge at this level. I’ll back them to come out on top over Spirit. Park Ridge v Brisbane Phoenix That’s now eight out of eight on the wrong end of the score line for the Panthers. I can’t see anything landing in the “W” column for them this week against Phoenix. The Nix have been on a poor run lately but this match should get them going again. New Farm Utd v Pine Rivers Utd After my touting of New Farm as a potential contender, they got a 1-6 beating from Ipswich City. Pine Rivers gave Centenary a run for their money but fell short in the end. Back at the “Park”, I think New Farm should return to winning ways. Toowong v Ipswich City Toowong appear to be coming to grips with this level of football being now unbeaten in three matches. The Bulls are still scoring freely against the lower teams but coming unstuck against the “big guns”. I think the boys from Ipswich will win. Pine Hills v Oxley Utd The Pythons secured their first win over cellar-dwellers Park Ridge. This will give them some confidence against Oxley who made Annerley work until the end. It has draw written all over it for me.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 3 Match of the Round – Caboolture v Westside The Snakes smashed eight past Jimboomba last time out (although they let three in). They are now 2nd top scorers in the division (with Steven Cleary leading the way with six). Ignoring the seven they conceded against St George, they still have conceded 11 in six games on the debit side of the ledger (three in each of their last two matches), so still have defensive frailty. Westside got up in a high scoring game over Clairvaux that was rescheduled for Thursday last week due to the Roar match on Friday. Just have a feeling that Westside might take this one out if Ross Peach can continue his goal scoring form. Newmarket v St George Willawong After a slow start to the season, Newmarket have gradually gathered form and moved up to 5th on the ladder. Something Coach Ashley Hempstead suggested would happen after their loss to The Gap in the FFA Cup just before the season commenced. A last minute goal was all that kept them from beating Caboolture last week. St George are still rolling along at the top, winning five in a row after the Westside reverse. Will be an interesting match up and I think the Badger St boys might get up. Tarragindi Tigers v Narangba Utd The Tigers fought a high scoring draw with Redcliffe, rescuing a point with a last minute goal. Narangba succumbed to another loss at the hands of Bardon and seemed destined for the wooden spoon. Tigers to win. Jimboomba Utd v AC Carina Scoring three goals against Caboolture was a positive, conceding eight more than outweighed that. Carina broke their run of “one goal difference” results but on the wrong side of the ledger. A draw here appears to be in order. Slacks Creek v Redcliffe PCYC The Tigers are unpredictable (I think I’ve said that before) and are yet to keep a clean sheet. Redcliffe appear to be solid without being spectacular and have scored in every match. It makes this one extremely hard to make a decision on. A high scoring draw? Bardon Latrobe v Clairvaux Bardon thumped Narangba to get back into the winners’ circle. Clairvaux went down to Westside in a high scoring encounter. Another toughie but will go with Clairvaux to get the money in this one.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 4 Match of the Round – Springfield Utd v Bethania Rams Two undefeated teams (one a little surprisingly) sitting 3rd and 4th. It’s early days however, with both having played just the two matches to date. Springfield have banged in ten goals (while conceding five) with Kevin Barraclough notching six of those. Bethania have a five to three record in the goal department. Springfield’s wins have been over “lesser lights” while the Rams have had a slightly tougher run on paper (if you call two games a “run”). Have to go with Bethania here. Mooroondu v Logan Metro Mooroondu lost for the second time without scoring. Metro went down in a close one at Samford after leading for 30 minutes until just before the hour mark in a sign of a return to pre-season form. Metro to keep the Roos winless (but not necessarily scoreless). The Lakes v Logan Village The Falcons match last weekend was postponed due to an issue with the main field and as a result this fixture has been reversed from it's original schedule.. The Lakes had their first win back at Capital League level over Mooroondu. Long trip to North Lakes from Big River Country Park and I think Lakes will grab get three points in the bag. North Brisbane v Kangaroo Point Rovers The Aces were idle due to postponement while KPR went down by the odd goal in five to Springfield. North Brisbane are two from two with ten goals for and none against. KPR are yet to garner a point from two games, losing by a goal each time. The Aces to win. Samford Rangers - BYE
