The Crossbar: It's not a one horse race anymore

The Hyundai A League title race was opened up a little when Brisbane shocked the Mariners at home and Wellington kept their run of wins going on the weekend. 

Wellington Phoenix kept their purple patch going with a 2-1 win over Adelaide at Hindmarsh on Friday night. Wellington must surely be considered the real deal now even if the Reds are languishing in second last on the Hyundai A-League ladder. 

Brisbane are back to their 'Roarcelona' best, having beat the high flying Mariners at Gosford. The Mariners still sit seven points clear and with only seven games remaining it would take a choke of Greg Norman like proportions to lose the minor premiership. Arnie's men now know its not going to be a cakewalk come finals time. Besart Berisha was again one of the main talking points when he was in a physical 'discussion' with team-mate James Meyer.

Big crowd, plenty to play for, shame about the product. The sixth installment of the Melbourne derby didn't lack the passion, just the quality. Melbourne Victory got another draw meaning it's now a race against time for Magilton's men. Heart unearthed another young gun with Craig Goodwin putting in one of the best A-League debut games in the competitions short history. It's a  pity for sub editors everywhere when he didn't score and the Heart didn't get a 'Good Win'...    Boom Tish!!

Reddy over Bolton?

It was a good day to be a former Sydney player playing for Newcastle as three of them scored against their former employers in a 5-2 rout at the SFS. The Jets got three goals up before a spirited fight back had the Sky Blues within striking distance. The Jets then put on the afterburners and scored twice in the last three minutes to keep Newcastle in the top six and kick Sydney out. How and why Sydney thought it would be a good idea to let Clint Bolton go and give Liam Reddy the number one jersey is a decision I will never understand.

Glory smashed the struggling Gold Coast United 4-0, with three midfielders the magic number for Perth. With contract renewals just around the corner, McGarry is making a strong claim for at least a one year deal for the 2012/13 campaign. His goal set Glory on their way, with Liam Miller’s sidefooted finish, Travis Dodd’s header and an own goal by Adam Traore ensuring that the 7,861 who took in some Monday Night Football went home happy. Shane Smeltz butchered a butchery of chances in the first half but the Glory are on a roll and are now eight games without defeat. A club record by the length of the Nullarbor. 

These snuck under the Crossbar and into The Sack (Likes)

1. We thought we picked out Craig Goodwin to be a star early with our VPL coverage but @80kms sent this belter of a goal in from earlier whilst Goodwin was playing for the Raiders in Adelaide.

2. The Atmosphere at AAMI Park for a Melbourne Derby.

3. Brisbane showing they ain't done with just yet. @Paul_Football

4. Michael Thwaite's first senior goal. From all reports he's a ripping bloke so good on him.

5. Perth Glory. On a roll or what!!!

6. Players scoring against their old clubs. Its becoming an epidemic with Ryall, Thwaite, Topor-Stanley, Zadkovic, Brockie all scoring in the past two weeks. If you could have picked anyone it would have been Smeltz against Gold Coast, wouldn't you?

These struck the Crossbar went straight down and we're not sure if it crossed the line or not (We need video technology to know if we like/dislike them) 

1.  Besart Berisha. Loose cannon, wild hair do, good for the game or just a nut case? @thurbs62

What went over the Crossbar (Dislikes)  

1.  Grant Brebner's red card. Lack of discipline, and what was he doing when he was already on a yellow anyway? @cjpelican

2. The scoreline and overall standard of game at the Melbourne Derby. ZZZzzzzzz

3. Coaches announcing their departure two months before the season ends. You're either in or you're out. 

P.S. our prediction is that Melbourne Heart will (and should) continue its youth policy, this time with former Heart youth assistant and now Newcastle Jets assistant, Arthur Papas (which we like).

4. Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory. Biggest clubs in the land? Nope, they're 7th and 8th!