Mt Franklin Women's Premier League Preview - RD18
Mitchelton will confirm their perfect season, if they win of course, but all the focus is on fourth place.
Logan Lightning's draw against Pine Hills on Wednesday has changed everything, with Peninsula now favourites to take fourth place. On with the show...
Virginia United vs Annerley Friday 8:30pm at Albert Bishop Park Virginia United moved out of second last place with a 2-0 win over The Gap last weekend which was a moral victory. With the PlayStation 4 NPL rejigging next season, they more than likely wouldn't have got relegated regardless and gives a solid base to grow the club in 2017. Annerley are one of three teams still in the race for the top four and a win in this game will secure a finals place at the very least. Third place would ensure they play at home but that is now out of their own hands. The Stars have largely gone under the radar and could easily have a big impact down the track. Virginia would love to finish off the year with a win but Annerley have everything to play for. Prediction: Annerley 3-1
The Gap vs Eastern Suburbs Friday 8:30pm at Walton Bridge Reserve The Gap have been sliding for a long time with the inability to score goals troubling them all season. Now they are in one of the "relegation" places so who knows what their fate will be. Last weekend's loss to Virginia was not a good sign and it gets more difficult this Friday. Eastern Suburbs shipped six goals when they were beaten by Peninsula Power last weekend and their season is officially over. Nonetheless, they still have to play this game and will be expecting a win. Regardless of motivation they will still be favourites to win this game. Mad Monday (or Mad Saturday?) has arrived for both teams meaning we're likely to see an open game. Prediction: Easts 4-2 Peninsula Power vs Pine Hills Saturday 5pm at AJ Kelly Field Peninsula Power will almost certainly make the top four if they win this game with Logan playing Mitchelton at the same time. A wobbly season looks to be finishing well with a place in the Elaine Watson Cup final already locked in. The finals start here for Power and they are in good shape. Pine Hills grabbed a draw against Logan Lightning in midweek but it won't be enough as their season comes to an end. It could have been so much better but they just couldn't get over the line in the tight games. With nothing to play for, how they approach this game will be interesting. A Hills win is a definite possibility but Power look set for an interesting post-season campaign. Prediction: Power 5-2 Mitchelton vs Logan Lightning Saturday 6:15pm at Teralba Park Mitchelton are one game away from the perfect league season and who would put it past them. The only thing stopping them will be a highly motivated opposition. By all measures, the Mustangs are one of the teams of the season and a hiccup is unlikely. Logan Lightning are in deep trouble after their draw against Pine Hills and are now relying on Power not to win at least one of their last two games. That's assuming they don't win this game but that would be far and away the upset of the season. A draw would leave Power needing to beat Capalaba however. Mitchelton will want that 100% record so there will be no let-up. Logan need to defend for their lives. Prediction: Mitchelton 3-0 Souths United vs Capalaba Sunday 4pm at Wakerley Park Souths United will more than likely be glad to see the end of the season having had a struggle apart from the games against Virginia United and Peninsula Power. It doesn't get any easier against the Bulldogs but anything can happen in football. Let's hope they finish with a good performance. Capalaba played their "finals test run" last week against Mitchelton and went down 2-0 which gives them plenty of hope. They will have learned plenty from that game but with two games left to play they need to keep focussed on the task at hand. Things will be easier this weekend. Both teams have little to play for with their finishing places already locked in. Bulldogs are heavy favourites. Prediction: Capalaba 3-0
