Mt Franklin Premier League Preview - RD12
Another rain-affected weekend means the Mt Franklin’s Women’s Premier League is still fractured and difficult to define. The catch-up games will come into play eventually but until then we must be content with five close games having their impact this weekend. On with the show... Eastern Suburbs vs Souths United Friday 8:30pm at Heath Park Eastern Suburbs took on a heavy defeat last weekend against Annerley and find themselves in real danger of relegation, sitting in second last on the table. Despite a couple of games in hand, anything but a win against Souths would put an end to their semi-final hopes. Being out of form doesn’t help their cause. Souths United are still fighting for some respectability despite their win over Virginia United a short while back. Motivation can help them out and they will surely fancy themselves to get something from this game above any other. Improvements in defence are still the key. Easts’ thrashing from Annerley could be the result marker but the Tigers should still edge past Souths. Prediction: Easts 3-1 Capalaba vs The Gap Friday 8:30pm at John Fredericks Park Capalaba look likely to finish second but firstly this game could all but ensure a top four spot. A week off is always a precarious thing as far as momentum is concerned and a loss could dent their confidence but they will be favourites to win despite not playing the Gators so far in 2017. The Gap came out of last weekend’s weather event with a catch-up game against Mitchelton which no one needs in their back catalogue. It means they need to keep winning which is no easy task against the Bulldogs. The top four is still a possibility but that points gap is a worry. Game of the round with the Gators desperate for goals. Capalaba haven’t been convincing lately but should have enough. Prediction: Capalaba 2-1 Logan Lightning vs Peninsula Power Saturday 6pm at Cornubia Park Logan Lightning gave Souths a thrashing last weekend, adding to a decent run of recent results. Their lowly position on the table is not a true representation of their achievements so far. If any team can sneak up on the rest of the pack in the second half of the season it’s Lightning, starting at home against the Power. Peninsula Power started the season with some promise but the last three games have been something of a nightmare. Lots of goals is a good thing, of course, but it’s irrelevant if tons of goals are flying in at the other end. How the year turns out could be defined by this contest, particularly with a heavy loss. Sure to be goals in this game, but Logan have a much better defence. Back to back wins for Lightning will give them plenty of drive. Prediction: Logan 4-2 Pine Hills vs Annerley Saturday 7pm at James Drysdale Reserve Pine Hills have come a long way on their ability to concede less often than pretty much everyone else apart from Mitchelton. Unfortunately, that has left them with only one point from two very winnable games. The 0-0 draw with Virginia United is particularly troubling and they need to be much better this weekend. Annerley are provisionally in second place, pending catch-up games, and can point to last weekend’s excellent 5-1 win over Easts as a sign of their continued improvement. This looms as an important game in the context of the season. It’s a long way out but it could be the one that wraps up a finals place. Tight contest with plenty to like in attack and defence. Annerley should score, and that could be the difference. Prediction: Annerley 1-0 Mitchelton vs Virginia United Saturday 7pm at Teralba Park Mitchelton are miles ahead of everyone else, have easily the best record in Brisbane, regularly score mountains of goals and are already Premiers by default. Every game is a nightmare for their opponents. It’s worth noting however that winning EVERY game in a season is incredibly rare and incredibly difficult. Virginia United have had a tough season with few highlights and some real lowlights including losing to Souths. Unfortunately, they were hammered 9-0 by the Mustangs the first time they met which doesn’t inspire confidence. Only a miracle can save them here, but it has happened before and will happen again. Even guessing when Mitchelton might draw has become nigh impossible. Virginia will be picking the ball out of the net regularly. Prediction: Mitchelton 6-0
