FFA Cup Brisbane Zone RD2 Preview
As another season fast approaches, there's the little matter of the opening round of the FFA Cup in the Brisbane Zone to get us underway this weekend. The competition may have lost Westfield from the title, but it's still a competition that captures the nation's imagination and that dream that a grassroots club can one day lift the iconic trophy. This year, Victoria has beaten us to the punch for the first game in the 2018 edition of the cup, but this evening the first Queensland tie will take place for the Brisbane Zone with Pine Hills hosting Moggill in an all Viva Capital League 1 clash. Will we see another giant killing run such as that of Brisbane Knights last year when they toppled two of the top four Flight Centre Premier League sides in their first two rounds? With the nature of this season's restructured leagues and so much player movement, it will prove challenging to predict the possible outcomes from each tie, but we'll take a look at each game and see who might be the favourites to progress to Round 3. Nine sides were drawn a bye through to the next round which were The Gap, UQFC, Grange Thistle, North Pine, Bayside Utd, Albany Creek, Virginia Utd, Centenary Stormers and Mt Gravatt. They have been joined by AC Carina following the withdrawal of Redcliffe PCYC this week from the Viva Capital League 2 competition. So lets take a look at each of the Round 2 ties... THURSDAY 15th FEBRUARY 7.45pm Pine Hills v Moggill at James Drysdale Reserve. Moggill had a season to forget last year, failing to win a single game in 2018 which started with a RD2 cup exit at home to Annerley. It's difficult to say how they will fare this season and against a Pine Hills side that again, we know little about. It will be anyone's guess as to how this one will play out. No doubt though, Moggill will be looking to get their 2018 season off to a much better start than last year. Prediction: Pure guess work but with Hills at home, we'll plump for them to progress to RD3. Hills 3-1.
FRIDAY 16th FEBRUARY 7.30pm Brisbane Knights v Annerley at Brisbane Knights Sports Complex There's no question that Knights were the giant killers of 2018, knocking out Lions FC and Mitchelton last season in the FFA Cup before eventual Round of 32 finalists Peninsula Power eliminated them 5-0 in RD5.
They then followed that up by knocking out Souths Utd and Holland Park Hawks in the Pig 'N' Whistle Canale Cup before bowing out in a penalty shootout to eventual Flight Centre Brisbane Premier League champions Rochedale Rovers in the semi-final. Can they go one step further in 2018? There's no reason why not with coach Dave McEvoy able to get his team firing for such games. That said, they'll need to contend with Annerley's star recruit in Antonio Murray who's a proven goal scorer. Prediction: Likely to be an entertaining encounter but with Knights foray in the Kappa Silver Boot pre-season under their belts, they should have the edge. Knights 2-1.
7.30pm Toowong v Caboolture at Dunmore Park Another all Viva Capital League 1 encounter and a good test for both sides. Caboolture having risen through the divisions to now be one promotion away from Brisbane's top flight, which was their original goal when joining the Football Brisbane zone, and Toowong who have been there or there abouts the last couple of seasons in Capital League 2, now also playing in Brisbane's second tier competition this year. A tricky one to assess. Caboolture have seen a couple of their bigger names move on from last year, most notably James Fairgrieve, who netted 27 goals in 17 appearances last season for the Snakes. Prediction: Again very tricky to call but opting for a draw after 90 minutes and Toowong to steal it in extra time. 7.30pm Brisbane Athletic v Newmarket at Pinkenba Reserve A first time foray into the FFA Cup for Athletic after returning to the Football Brisbane zone this year. They'll be a buzz around Pinkenba Reserve on Friday night and most likely a bumper crowd to greet the home side when they face Newmarket. The visitors cup record isn't one to boast of. Convincingly knocked out by The Gap at the same stage last season, they've failed to make much of a showing in the competition since it's inception. Prediction: Excitement and adrenalin, plus home ground advantage could well see Athletic across the line. It should be a close game and we'll give the new boys on the block the win. Athletic 2-1. 7.30pm Slacks Creek v New Farm Utd at Usher Park Viva Capital League 2 side Slacks Creek host higher division opponents New Farm on Friday night. Creek endured a tough season in 2017 while New Farm were mid-table finishers in the old Capital League 2 last year. Creek's recent pre-season encounters in the Zoo Cup at Jimboomba perhaps didn't provide the best of results but would have provided them with a good hit out leading into the new season; whilst it's hard to say where New Farm are at as we head into this game, although they ought to still have an edge on their hosts. Prediction: A difficult one to assess but going on last season, we'll give the visitors a narrow win. New Farm 1-0. SATURDAY 17th FEBRUARY 6.00pm Western Spirit v Logan Village at Kippen Park These two sides met last season in the Pig 'N' Whistle Canale Cup round that proceeded each side's exit from this stage of the FFA Cup last year. Spirit won that encounter 5-0 with Village going on to struggle in Capital League 4. Pre-season form so far suggests Village are a better side this year with a number of games in the Zoo Cup at Jimboomba under their belts which could prove useful. Spirit finished mid-table in Capital League 2 last season and will be playing Viva Capital League 1 in 2018. Little is known about Spirit thus far but who could forget their last effort in the cup in 2017 when given a 13-0 thumping by Virginia Utd. Prediction: Either side will, this year, get to compete in RD3 and based on where each side's divisional status for 2018, we have to think Spirit will go on to RD3. Spirit 3-1. 6.00pm Narangba Utd v Tarragindi Tigers at Narangba Sporting Complex Narangba earned reinstatement to this season's Viva Capital League 2 following the withdrawal of Brisbane Phoenix from all competitions, making this an all Viva Capital League 2 clash. The hosts had a late rally last season in the league and nearly avoided finishing in the bottom two. The Tigers reached RD3 last season before facing Flight Centre Brisbane Premier League side Mitchelton, where they were dumped out in a 5-0 defeat. Last season's form would suggest Tarragindi will have the edge. Prediction: Tarragindi 2-0. 6.00pm Samford Rangers v Taringa Rovers at Samford Parklands Rangers were stand out champions of Capital League 4 last season and are likely to have retained much of that side as they embark on their 2018 season. That aside, they face a stiff test with the visit of Flight Centre Brisbane Premier League outfit Taringa Rovers, who themselves have retained much of their Capital League 1 championship winning side. Prediction: Based on previous form it would be hard to look past the visitors getting the job done here. Taringa 3-1. 6.00pm St George Willawong v Springfield Utd at St George's Park Two sides who have already met this year in the Zoo Cup that was played at Jimboomba last month. St George have retained their side from last year as well as seen the return of mercurial striker Aleksa Krkeljas. The Saints went on to claim the Zoo Cup silverware in both firsts and reserves which included victory over Springfield along the way. It would be the biggest of proverbial 'cupsets' should Springfield win this one and out of all the ties this round, this one has to be the one you'd out your mortgage on as a home banker. Prediction: Saints to romp home 6-0. 6.00pm Ipswich City v Park Ridge at Sutton Park City finished in third in Capital League 2 last season whilst the Panthers endured a year to forget - finishing with just one point in the league all season and just one win all year which came in the FFA Cup as this stage last time out when they defeated Mooroondu. Both sides will meet each other in the league this season but must first get past RD2 of the cup when they meet at Sutton Park on Saturday night. Prediction: The Bulls ought to get the result in this one. City 3-0. 6.30pm Acacia Ridge v North Star at Ron Proud Field Acacia Ridge make a return to the top flight this season following back to back to back promotions in recent years that took them up into last season's Capital League 1 where they finished in fifth spot. Retaining much of their side year in and year out has been key to their success and they'll more than likely cause most sides problems this year, including this FFA Cup tie against North Star. North Star were relegated on the last day of the season when Mt Gravatt escaped the drop and jumped above them. New coaching staff at Star may well provide a new confidence going into this season but this encounter will prove to be a tough ask for their first competitive game on 2018. Prediction: Hard to see Ridge losing this one. Ridge 3-1. 7.00pm The Lakes v Bardon Latrobe at Kinsellas Park The Lakes have recruited coach Mark Offer to Kinsellas Park and he usually manages to build a good team around him, so last season's form in Capital League 4 can be largely disregarded. Bardon will be looking to improve upon last season's Capital League 3 campaign where their Bowman Park field proved to be much of their undoing and where they must play much of the start of their season away from home. Last season, both sides exited the cup at this stage so for one of them, a RD3 berth awaits. Prediction: Despite The Lakes form last season, under Mark Offer they should prove to be a tough prospect. Level after 90 mins with Lakes to grab the win in extra time. 7.00pm Jimboomba Utd v North Brisbane at Kurrajong Park 2018 will see Jimboomba playing in Viva Capital League 3 following relegation last season. Club stalwart Corey Shcofield has taken over the coaching reins at Kurrajong Park as the club looks to bounce straight back up. Schofield will be familiar with his opponents this Saturday when the two sides met in 2015's FFA Cup RD2 and which was North Brisbane's first game since their return to senior football in the zone. Jimboomba winning that encounter 3-1. Fortunes for both clubs have however differed since then and the ACES will be a very different proposition this time round, although Jimboomba competed in the pre-season Zoo Cup recently which they hosted and which would have provided some useful match fitness and awareness. Prediction: A tricky one this one and a possible banana skin for North Brisbane. Opting for a draw in normal time and North Brisbane to just edge things in extra time or even penalties. 7.00pm Logan City Kings v Kangaroo Point Rovers at Clem Jones Field Kings make a return to senior men's football this season following last season's absence from the Capital Leagues. Rovers have been promoted to Viva Capital League 2 following a league reshuffle with club withdrawals, otherwise they may well have been favourites for Viva Capital League 3 this season. Difficult to tell how Kings will fare with a new coach and team and Rovers will no doubt be wary of their hosts in this tie. Prediction: Having their side organised in time may prove the undoing for Kings. Rovers 3-1. 7.00pm Bethania Rams v Logan Metro at Opperman Park These two sides know each other well and will both be entering their 2018 season under new coaches. Likely to be another close contest for both these Viva Capital League 3 sides with both sides expected to be well matched across the park. Prediction: Perhaps one of the closest matched ties in the round and the most likely to go all the way. Metro to win on penalties. SUNDAY 18th FEBRUARY 3.00pm Clairvaux v Westside Grovely at Clairvaux Mackillop College The predicted hot weekend will make this one even tougher for both sides. Clairvaux are under the new coaching duo of Russell and Graham Mapri who steered Kangaroo Point Rovers to grand final success in Capital League 4 last season. If they have managed to build the side they want, then this one could prove difficult for Westside who have struggled in recent editions of the FFA Cup. Westside made the finals of Capital League 3 last season whilst Clairvaux just avoided relegation. Based on that, Westside should be the more fancied to progress. Prediction: Westside to just edge in the hot sweltering conditions at Clairvaux Mackillop College. Westside 1-0. 3.00pm Oxley Utd v Mooroondu at Dunlop Park An equally difficult tie for both sides to be playing with the mercury tipped to hit the mid 30s on Sunday afternoon. Oxley have a poor record in the FFA Cup to date, struggling to get beyond this stage in recent years whilst the Roos haven't faired much better. The divisional gap though should see the hosts as favourites for this one to progress to RD3. Prediction: A sluggish affair in hot conditions but Oxley to go through. Oxley 2-0. 4.00pm Logan Roos v Ridge Hills Utd at Oates Park The new kids on the block, Logan Roos, will be hosting their first ever FFA Cup tie when they face Ridge Hills at Oates Park. Neither side competed in last season's competition with Ridge Hills withdrawing from Capital League football in 2017, but they are back and have apparently put together a good side. For the Roos, much of their side is made up of former refugees and there could well be some untapped talent on display this Sunday. A big crowd is expected at their Woodridge home and Hills will need to be at their best for this one. Prediction: The toughest tie to pick a winner from with two new sides to the competition. Pure adrenalin though could well see Brisbane's newest club progress at the first attempt. Roos 3-2.
