Flight Centre Premier League Weekly Preview - RD21
Two games remaining and three teams can win the league... it's the kind of finale we were all hoping for and brings back memories of the last day in 2012 when Redlands Utd won the title over Wolves.
Rochedale are in the box seat but any slip-ups would be costly with Power and Lions breathing down their necks. On with the show...
Logan FC vs Holland Park Hawks Friday 8:30pm at Cornubia Park Logan FC went down to Ipswich Knights 3-2 last time out in what was reportedly an enthralling game of football between two well-matched sides. That result means Logan can conceivably finish in second last place which would be relegation in any other season. A solid ending to this season will avoid that ignominy but have little impact on what lies ahead. Holland Park Hawks have a mathematical chance of making the finals but in reality they will be counted as the unluckiest team of the season having been title contenders for ages. All they can do is try to win both remaining games and keep their fingers crossed. Their recent record suggests they will be solid favourites to win this game even away from home. Two sides who are playing for the love of the game. That often suggests an open attacking contest. Prediction: Hawks 4-3 Peninsula Power vs Ipswich Knights Saturday 5pm at AJ Kelly Field Peninsula Power are so close to winning the title they can probably taste it and with the biggest week in the history of the club behind them, it's time to re-group and focus on the three shiny bits of silverware they can still win. Playing the two games against A-League games will have increased their standard of play but they'll be sore in the legs after the mid-week cup win over Southside Eagles. Ipswich Knights are STILL the team of the moment after racking up another second round win, this time over Logan FC. Amazingly, punters have already written them off in this game despite evidence to the contrary. Probably their biggest asset right now is staying in the game when the flow goes against them. In the context of the league, this game is massive. Everything suggests that Power will pick up another home win but I'm sticking with Ipswich on form alone. Prediction: Knights 2-1 Albany Creek vs Rochedale Rovers Saturday 5pm at Wolter Park Albany Creek can go into the last day of the season with a chance of qualifying for the finals for the first time but it won't be easy with the ladder-leaders visiting Wolter Park. It looks on paper like they have over-achieved but it's actually the other way around. If any team can produce the genuine shock results it's ACE. Big, big chance here because they are under-rated. Rochedale Rovers have it all their own hands now which could be the toughest thing for them to overcome. They have been one of Brisbane's most successful clubs over the years but another title would be spectacular considering they have been dire for two seasons. Are they good enough? Yes they are? Will they have luck on their side? They'll be hoping so. Make no mistake, this is a banger of a game. ACE can beat Rochedale and they'll be playing for their season as well. Prediction: 2-2 draw Capalaba vs Souths United Saturday 6pm at John Fredericks Park Capalaba ruined every multi-bet in Brisbane with probably the most amazing win of the year when they thrashed Mitchelton 4-1 last weekend. If that doesn't put the willies up their opposition this weekend, it damn well should. In a year where logic has largely been runner-up to insanity, finishing off the year with three wins would round it off nicely. Souths United got the result they wanted when Mitchelton lost last weekend but now come up against the same opposition off the back of their worst performance of the year, a 6-1 loss at home against Peninsula. Full of quality players but capable of some disjointed performances, they could be masters of their own demise. Impossible to predict their form at the best of times. The season isn't over for Souths but a win here is essential. Bulldogs aren't pushovers anymore. Prediction: 2-2 draw. Mitchelton vs Eastern Suburbs Saturday 6pm at Teralba Park Mitchelton fell in a massive heap last weekend. It's one thing losing to the bottom team and another thing altogether losing by three goals. But they are still favourites to take fourth place with a win and a draw from their last two games needed at the most. Of course, if they lose this game then it really is time to hit the panic button. A tendency to lift for the big games should help the Mustangs. Eastern Suburbs will harbour hopes of sneaking into the top four despite their dramatic loss of form and obviously are capable of winning their last two games but neither of them are easy. Going to Teralba Park is always difficult let alone with Mitchy only needing a draw to keep their hopes alive. They will probably be happy having had a weeks break after six games without a win. This game could have been so much bigger but still it's huge in context of the league. Tight. Prediction: 1-1 draw Grange Thistle vs Lions FC Saturday 7pm at Lanham Park Grange Thistle have eight points from their last six games which isn't spectacular but there have been difficult opponents, including two against team of the moment Ipswich Knights. Any suggestion they have nothing to play for is irrelevant which the chance of catching Logan FC sure to provide motivation. Thistle will provide thorny opposition over the last fortnight. Lions FC can still win the title and who would be willing to back against them doing it on the back of the craziest season in living memory. Do they deserve it? The last month has been less than convincing but they have scored more goals than anyone else so they could even win the league on goal difference. The longer this game stays scoreless, the tougher it will get. Despite being third, every club reserves a special effort for when Lions come to town ensuring plenty of competitiveness. Prediction: Lions 2-1
