.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
A whopping 34 goals across six games made for an entertaining Round 10 goal-fest in the BPL. There was no change at the top as Lions, Wolves and Power all recorded convincing victories. The cellar dwellers had another disappointing weekend, with UQ, North Star and Brisbane Force all on the wrong end of results. Ipswich produced the upset of the round in arguably the most dour match in Round 10, downing Easts at Eric Evans Oval.
Albany Creek 1:9 Wolves
FC
Wolves FC ran riot against a hapless Albany Creek side to record the
biggest away win of the BPL season and condemn the hosts to their third
consecutive defeat.
Everyone will be talking about…
Creek’s rapid drop in form. An impressive start to the season has been
overshadowed by a horror run in the past three weeks – seeing Excelsior concede
15 goals in return for a solitary strike.
Yeah, but what happened?
It was 2-0 within ten minutes and game over by half-time. Braces from
Kado Aoci and Trent Clulow, accommodated by a Sasa Radulovic goal saw a
battering 5-0 scoreline at the break. Wolves continued to share the scoring around
in the second half, with Nathan Reardon, Alex Janovsky and Drew Jeskey getting
in on the act. The biggest plaudits were saved for Aoci’s third, which left the
scoreline at 9-0. Brent Holden spared Albany a third consecutive goalless match
with his late strike.
The numbers:
Creek – Holden ‘90
Ipswich – Aoci ‘7, ’32, ’76; Clulow ‘9, ’43; Reardon ’58; Janovsky ’65;
Jeskey ‘70
Looking ahead...
The message from this game is don’t stand in Wolves’ way, but
unfortunately for Ipswich the fixture list is unkind. Creek are in disarray and
need a result when they host Logan.
Peninsula Power 6:2 Brisbane Force
A second half onslaught helped Power record their third straight win,
coming against an improving Force side that remains in the bottom three.
Everyone will be talking about…
Power’s injury concerns. With an already depleted squad, Richie Hurlin
limped off, as later did his replacement Matthew Breeze.
Yeah, but what happened?
Force were seemingly confident coming into the match on the back of a
solid run of form and hit the lead early on through Lachlan Munn. Power didn’t
take long to respond as Michael Baird scored an opportunistic goal and later
provided for Jordan Lowdon. His spectacular shot into the roof of the net
looked to have given Power the advantage at half-time, but the visitors had
other ideas and forced home an equaliser through Travis Jackson. It was a
one-team show in the second stanza as Lowdon completed his brace and Luke Gauci
converted a through ball to open up a two-goal advantage. Two household names
turned it into a rout late on – first Shaun Feuerieggel dribbling his way
through to goal and then Warren Moon producing a scorching free-kick from 35
metres.
The numbers:
Power – Lowdon ’15, ’52; Baird ’43; Gauci ’60; Feuerriege ’72; Moon
‘90+2
Force – Munn ‘6; Jackson ‘45+2
Looking ahead...
Power is on a roll and it certainly doesn't seem like UQ will be
standing in their way next week. Force faces a defining battle against fellow
strugglers North Star.
North Star 0:4 Logan Lightning
A Phillip Randal Brace helped Logan to a convincing victory at North
Star on Saturday night.
Everyone will be talking about…
Logan ends the rut. Lightning came into this game without a win in three
and the much needed three points bring them back into the chasing pack for a
place in the top four.
Yeah, but what happened?
Logan enjoyed a comfortable first period in which they dominated
possession and scored two quick-fire goals. Randall picked up his first of the
evening midway through the half – soon followed by a neat finish by Daniel
Clark. A two-goal deficit seemed a mountain to climb for Star and they went
further behind straight after the restart from Randall’s second. Richard Greer
put his name on the scoresheet on the hour mark, rounding off Logan’s dominance
of possession and clinical finishing.
The numbers:
Logan – Randall ’26, ’47; Clark ‘30; Greer ‘62
Looking ahead...
Even at this stage, Star’s season hangs in the balance and they need a
result at Brisbane Force next week. Unthinkable one month ago, but Logan will
be firm favourites when they travel to Albany Creek on .
Rochedale Rovers 4:2
UQFC
A much improved performance from UQ was not enough to prevent Rochedale
collecting all three points to end a run of three winless games.
Everyone will be talking about…
UQ’s performance. A rejuvenated uni side matched Rovers through the
majority of the game and could have got a result with a little more composure
in front of goal.
Yeah, but what happened?
UQ took a surprising lead early on, as a new formation spearheaded by
Loic David and Stewatr Croll paid off. Croll was on hand to thunder homer a
goalmouth rebound. The hosts were right back in it however, Cody Lovell
converting a pin-point Greg Cheshire cross. Two further strikes either side of
the break by Rhys Hastings and Jarryd McKellar looked to have restored order
for Rovers, but a close range header from Daniel Stewart-McLean brought the
students back into the game. This sparked a period of dominance for UQ, who
somehow failed to score one of several opportunities they created. When you
don’t take your chances against Rochedale you usually get hurt, as was the case
here when Terry Hughes killed off the game with 15 minutes to play.
The numbers:
Rovers – Lovell ‘9; Hastings ’26; McKellar ’58; Hughes ‘76
UQ – Croll ‘6; Stewart-McLean ‘66
Looking ahead...
Rovers will be glad their horror run of results has ended and will look
to build on this performance at Capalaba next week. UQ will have their tails up
after arguably their best performance of the season and will go in with renewed
hope against visiting Power.
Ipswich Knights 2:0 Eastern Suburbs
Goals from Igor Sao Jose and Matthias Waldmann either side of the break downed
a ten-man Tigers outfit that never lived up to expectations at Ipswich.
Everyone will be talking about…
Ipswich making the most of their chances. In a disappointing spectacle,
the hosts turned two of the very few opportunities throughout the match into
goals.
Yeah, but what happened?
Coming into the match on the back of a string of fine performances
including last week’s 5-0 drubbing of Albany Creek, Easts never really got
going. Sao Jose put the hosts in front on the half hour mark when he broke
through Easts’ defence and coolly dispatched a low shot past Tom Carroll. An
uneventful first half was matched by the second 45, with Danish import Mathias
Waldmann providing the only highlight. Waldmann doubled Ipswich’s lead after he
latched on to a spectacular assist from substitute Victor Fenehia.
The numbers:
Ipswich – Sao Jose ’30; Waldmann ‘55
Looking ahead...
Ipswich face an uphill battle to back up this
performance when they travel to Wolves next week, while it is hard to predict
which Easts side will show up for their clash against leaders Lions.
Lions FC 4:0 Capalaba
Shoheel Kahn produced a memorable display to down Capalaba, netting a
hat-trick and consolidating Lions’ position at the top of the table.
Everyone will be talking about…
Khan’s ingenuity. The agile frontman made light work of the chances he
was given and almost single-handedly led his side to victory.
Yeah, but what happened?
Capalaba held their ground in the first period and the sides were locked
goalless at the break. Lions noticeably began pressing higher up the park in
the second period and Khan’s deadly finishing proved the difference. Lions’
number nine bagged an 18-minute hat-trick, with Andrew Butler also sneaking in
a strike to complete the onslaught.
The numbers:
Lions – Khan ’60, ’65, ’78; Butler ‘71
Looking ahead...
Lions may face a stern test at an unpredictable
Easts side next week, while there is not much between Capalaba and Rochedale on
paper and on the standings ahead of their clash at John Fredericks Park.