Capital Leagues Weekly Preview
Back to a full book of matches this weekend and a top of the table clash in Capital 4 is the stand-out match. Capital 2 and 3 also have top four clashes to keep us interested. For Capital 1-3 it is the half-way mark of the season (except for matches still to be caught up of course!) CAPITAL LEAGUE 1 Match of the Round - North Pine v Mt Gravatt The Gorillas had a mid-week catch-up win over UQ to take them to third and are the leading goal scorers in the competition (with 24). Shuto Kuboyama has nine of these and will need to be watched by the Hawks. A draw with Southside Eagles last time out for Mt Gravatt keeps them in touch with the top four, although they will be annoyed at losing a two goal lead. Both teams have been scoring goals but have conceded too many. So indications are for a high-scoring match (will probably end up 0-0 now). North Pine to win. Bayside Utd v Acacia Ridge Bayside run hot and cold it seems. Beat leaders Taringa before a draw with North Star and a loss to Mt Gravatt, then a win over Moggill. Acacia Ridge are on a six game winning streak. So, on paper, all points to a Ridge win. Bayside were on song against Moggill but missed a number of chances. They can’t afford to do that this weekend. Has upset written all over it, doesn’t it? I’ll go for it – Bayside (I think Ridge are due a loss). Taringa Rovers v Moggill Leaders v cellar-dwellers. A potential banana skin if the Rovers don’t focus and play to their best. Moggill suffered another big loss (to UQ) on the weekend and this will have dented their confidence even more. Has got to be Taringa. Wolves FC v North Star Mmmmm – another loss for Wolves leaves them languishing in 11th position just below North Star who sit in 10th. So it would be a relegation six-pointer without next year’s reorganisation. I’ll fence sit and say this will be a draw. The Gap v Southside Eagles Good win for the Gators over Wolves reversing their first round loss. Eagles clawed back a two goal half-time deficit against Mt Gravatt. They have four draws in nine matches - they need to covert some of these to wins. Don’t see that happening here – a Gap win. UQ FC v Brisbane Knights After midweek loss to North Pine, the Students rebounded to beat bottom team Moggill. Knights last start two weeks ago was a win over The Gap. Knights are another hot and cold team. I think they will warm up for this one and take the points.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 2 Match of the Round - Ipswich City v Virginia Utd Some might label Ipswich City as flat track bullies. But you can only beat what is in front of you. They have ridden roughshod over lower teams but come unstuck against higher ups. Virginia – what happened against Oxley? On paper, a match they should have won – but games are won on the field. This match could go some way to answering the question about the Bulls. Virginia will need to answer the question – can they bounce back from their first loss? All will be revealed at Sutton Park this Saturday. Me? – Virginia. Oxley Utd v Centenary Stormers Surprise, surprise, surprise – Oxley upset Virginia at Albert Bishop Park to end the unbeaten run. Centenary had last weekend off and should be well rested. More questions to be answered – was Oxley’s result an anomaly or have they found form? For the Stormers – can they continue their march at the top of the table? Will Shoheel Khan be playing this week? Whether he does or not, I still think Centenary will win at Dunlop Park. Brisbane Phoenix v Pine Hills Phoenix sprung back to life after three losses (albeit with a win over bottom team Park Ridge). The Pythons snatched a draw at New Farm, coming back from two down at the break and will be encouraged by that result. Phoenix should still be too strong. Western Spirit v Park Ridge In a catch up match, Spirit fell short at Annerley after a “spirited” second half performance completely in contrast to their first half. Park Ridge are still pointless and with a record of three goals for and 45 against in nine matches, that is unlikely to change this weekend. Pine Rivers Utd v Toowong The Predators last points gained were on 4 March and they have lost seven since. Toowong appear to have found their feet. Last start they were two up over Ipswich City before losing 3-4. Have a feeling this one might be a draw. Annerley v New Farm Utd Annerley cruised to a two goal lead over Western Spirit before seemingly taking their foot off the pedal to allow Spirit back into the game. New Farm, similarly, had a two goal lead that they let go of against Pine Hills. Annerley should not make that mistake again.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 3 Match of the Round - AC Carina v Caboolture 3rd v 2nd. After breaking their cycle of “one goal difference” results in a three goal loss at home to Newmarket, Carina then gave Jimboomba a six goal walloping down at Kurrajong Park. Caboolture are now unbeaten in seven matches, their only blemish in that run was a last gasp draw with Newmarket. The Snakes are scoring plenty but letting a few in as well and have only recorded one clean sheet (to bottom side Narangba). However, I think their superior firepower up front will get them over the line. Westside v Bardon Latrobe A Western Derby of sorts as well as a fight for the top four as 4th plays 6th. The narrow loss to Newmarket means Westside have now lost two in a row. This followed a bright start to the season but they are still hanging on to 4th position. Bardon have won two in a row to move up the table after a slow start to the season. The Grovely boys need to turn things around going into the second round to maintain their challenge. Bardon will be keen to keep their winning run going. Westside to come out on top. Clairvaux v Tarragindi Tigers Clairvaux looked the goods early on in the season but have faltered, losing four of the last five, slipping to 9th. Tarragindi were tipped to challenge for the title on past years’ efforts but are down in 10th after losing to Narangba. Tough one to tip. I’ll go for Clairvaux. Narangba Utd v Slacks Creek The Narangba boys got their first win recently (over Tarragindi) and will want to build on that. The Tigers had a good win over Redcliffe last outing and need to continue that form to challenge for the top four. Slacks Creek should take the points home. Redcliffe PCYC v Newmarket PCYC lost at home to Slacks Creek two weeks ago and will be disappointed with that result. Newmarket continued their form upswing accounting for Westside last weekend. Both these teams are in a mid-table battle and I think Newmarket will edge it. St George Willawong v Jimboomba Utd The Saints are still marching along at the top of the table. The Jets got hammered by AC Carina in a poor showing in their last match. The trip back to Jimboomba from Willawong on Sunday night is likely to be a very sombre one, I think.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 4 Match of the Round – Samford Rangers v Springfield Utd The only two undefeated teams at Premier/Capital level meet this weekend. Samford did drop their first points of the season last weekend, being held to a draw at home by Bethania, while Springfield are at 100% after three matches (including a win over Bethania). It is still early days in Cap 4 so this match will be good indicator of whether Springfield are the real deal. Although their narrow loss to Caboolture in the FFA Cup indicates they should be treated as such. Should be a tight one, but I have to go for Rangers at home. Kangaroo Point Rovers v Logan Village KPR showed they don’t intend to be part of the also-rans with a good away win at North Brisbane. A tough run of fixtures to date but now they meet bottom team Logan Village. The Falcons have been leaking goals and I don’t expect that to change at Raymond Park. Bethania Rams v North Brisbane Two teams that were tipped to go close at the start of the season. The Rams have been disappointing to date – a couple of close wins followed by a loss and a draw. The Aces had two big wins to start with but fell to KPR last start. Rams to get going again here. The Lakes v Logan Metro After a slow start, the Lakers have picked up with wins over the bottom two to build some confidence. Metro have been another team that has disappointed after being a pre-season tip to improve. Two wins over the bottom two against three losses. Tip a draw. Mooroondu v BYE
