Capital Leagues Weekly Preview
Just as we were starting to catch up on postponed matches, the weather interceded again last weekend and we lost five matches across Capital 1, 2 & 4. The forecast for this weekend looks good, so fingers crossed there will be no more washouts. CAPITAL LEAGUE 1 Match of the Round – North Pine v The Gap North Pine came away from Memorial Park with a last-gasp 1-0 win over Southside Eagles that lifts them back to second. This broke a three match sequence without a win. The Gap’s match against leaders Taringa was postponed due to weather. North Pine can’t afford to drop any points if they want to have any chance of catching the leaders. The Gators won the first round match and will want a repeat of that. I think the Gorillas may just have too much to play for and will edge it. Taringa Rovers v UQ FC Local derby out South-West way. Taringa’s match at The Gap was washed out while UQ squeezed past Bayside Utd by a 2-1 score line. Rovers took the first round encounter but only by the slimmest of margins in a 1-0 result despite having a man advantage for the greater part of the match. The Students have snuck up to 7th on the ladder and are in sight of a top four spot but need to keep getting results. Derbies are always unpredictable, but I think the Rovers will take this one. Bayside Utd v Wolves FC The “first” derby by the bay for these two this year as the first round encounter was postponed. Bayside went down 2-1 to UQ on the weekend after scoring first while Wolves accounted for Moggill on Friday night. I’ll go for the draw. Mt Gravatt v Brisbane Knights Mt Gravatt’s game was another one put off on Sunday. Knights beat North Star by the odd goal in seven after being down at the break to maintain their hold on fourth position. Has to be a Knights’ win here. Moggill v Acacia Ridge Fifteen losses in a row now for Moggill and this weekend does not offer the prospect of stopping that sequence when Acacia Ridge come visiting. Ridge’s match was called off on the weekend. They will get up here but by how many? North Star v Southside Eagles North Star gave Knights a fright by leading at half time before going down 4-3. Eagles, similarly, lost to late goal against North Pine. Both of these teams have been up and down and hard to tip. I’ll back North Star.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 2
Match of the Round – Toowong v Virginia Utd Toowong had a hard fought 1-0 win over Oxley and have risen to 7th on the ladder. Virginia also had a tight win, getting up 2-1 over New Farm coming back from conceding an early goal to maintain 2nd place. Toowong have won three in a row and are in with a shout of the finals if they can keep that run going – something that did not look possible earlier in the season. Virginia are still not out the Premiership picture but need to keep winning and hope Centenary drop points. Something tells me a draw is on the cards. Ipswich City v Oxley Utd City were rained out of the Ipswich derby with Western Spirit. Oxley were a little unlucky not to come away with a point against Toowong. The Bulls have won their last four and are showing good form and can no longer be called “flat-track bullies”. Oxley will battle it out but City will win. Centenary Stormers v Pine Hills Centenary had the expected win over Park Ridge, but not by a huge margin. Still, it was comfortable “job done”. Pine Hills’ game against Annerley was another that did not go ahead due to weather. Can’t tip against the Stormers I’m afraid. Pine Rivers Utd v Western Spirit Rivers were given a hiding by Brisbane Phoenix while Spirit’s game against Ipswich City was called off on Friday night. Even though it is a big away trip for Spirit, they will take the points from the Predators and head home happy and keep in sight of a finals’ position. New Farm Utd v Park Ridge New Farm took an early lead over Virginia but gave up two second half goals to go down. Park Ridge put in another good effort against Centenary but still ended up with nothing to show for it. This could be closer than expected as New Farm are a little bit goal shy, but they should still get the win. Annerley v Brisbane Phoenix – POSTPONED to 15 Aug, Due to Pig 'N' Whistle Canale Cup match on Monday.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 3 Match of the Round – Caboolture v Bardon Latrobe 2nd v 4th. Caboolture thrashed Clairvaux while Bardon had a tight win over Jimboomba. If this was earlier in the season, it would have been an easy tip for the Snakes. They won the first round match 6-1. But Bardon have won six on the trot and have climbed into the top four, scoring 27 goals in that run. Defence would appear to be Bardon’s problem, conceding 31 goals, but half of those came in the first five matches. Caboolture’s defence is also shaky (they let in two from Clairvaux last weekend). Should be a high scoring match and the Snakes should win. Clairvaux v AC Carina Clairvaux conceded nine to Caboolture last weekend – not a good look. They are out of the running for the finals. AC Carina accounted for Narangba by a 3-1 score line but are still 7 points behind 2nd. Carina won 2-1 in the first meeting. All points to a win for AC Carina in their chase of the top two. Narangba Utd v St George Willawong Narangba were again competitive but again came away without anything to show for it with a 3-1 loss to AC Carina. The Saints disposed of Redcliffe PCYC fairly easily. St George need to win this one and score few goals to stay ahead of Caboolture. They will win but maybe not by a big margin? Slacks Creek v Newmarket Creek were beaten at home by Westside and are slipping out of contention for the Finals. Newmarket got up over Tarragindi by the odd goal in three and have an outside chance of the top four. Another two teams that have been inconsistent from one week to the next although Newmarket have won their last two. Maybe a draw will be the result. Tarragindi Tigers v Jimboomba Utd Two teams at the wrong end of the table meet. Tigers went down to Newmarket, with Jimboomba losing their ninth in a row to Bardon. Tarragindi won the first time round at Kurrajong Park and I think will do so again at home. Redcliffe PCYC v Westside – POSTPONED to 5 Aug, Due to Pig 'N' Whistle Canale Cup match on Monday.
CAPITAL LEAGUE 4 Match of the Round – Logan Metro v Kangaroo Point Rovers Logan Metro made hard work of beating bottom side Logan Village, winning 2-1. KPR have settled after an up and down start to the season and have moved into third position on the ladder following a 4-0 victory over Mooroondu. A chilly Compton Park will be a little different for Rovers who play their home matches at 3pm. Both have similar “For” records in the goal scoring department, but KPR have only conceded half as many as Metro. KPR are in form and I will go with them to win. Springfield Utd v North Brisbane Springfield returned to the winner’s circle with a convincing 6-1 result over The Lakes. North Brisbane had the Bye so will be raring to go. These two met a couple of weeks back in a catch up match with the Aces getting up 3-1. Same again, I think. Samford Rangers v The Lakes It was another washout for Samford last weekend. The Lakes travelled to Springfield and went home with nothing to show for the journey. A shorter trip this week but I think they will also return empty handed. Mooroondu v Bethania Rams Mooroondu were beaten by Kangaroo Point Rovers while Bethania’s match fell foul of the weather. Bethania need the win keep in touch with the top three and should not have any trouble getting it here. Logan Village - BYE
