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Wolves FC 1:0 Ipswich Knights
A last-gasp Christopher Knowles header broke Ipswich hearts and gave Wolves
a victory that sees them keep the pressure on leaders Lions.
Everyone will be talking about…
A gallant display by the visitors. After 90 minutes of rigid tactical
organisation and discipline, Ipswich ultimately came short in the cruellest of
fashions.
Yeah, but what happened?
Coming in as firm underdogs and nine points adrift of their fancied
hosts, Ipswich displayed an inspiring performance by nullifying space for their
opponents in midfield and their back third. It looked like it was going to pay
its due dividends, but for a last-minute foray forward by Wolves – finished off
by an over-joyous Knowles.
The numbers:
Wolves – Knowles ‘90
Looking ahead...
It’s a heartbreaker for the Knights, but they’ll take plenty of
positives into their game against Logan next week. Wolves will be relived no
points were dropped ahead of their crunch home clash with Lions.
Albany Creek 0:1 Logan Lightning
Albany Creek’s rapid slide down the table continued as an early Petar
Kostovski goal proved decisive for Logan.
Everyone will be talking about…
Albany Creek’s horrid run of form continues. Now winless in four, Excelsior
occupy seventh on the table and look nothing like the team that took the league
by storm in the opening quarter of the season.
Yeah, but what happened?
Logan started the encounter in positive fashion and created most of the
early running. Their sustained pressure on Creek’s defensive third paid off
when Kostovski netted the opener on 12 minutes. The hosts slowly got back into
the game but were unable to break level before the break. The second 45 delivered
a breath of composure for Logan, who held on to their slender lead and proved
why they have the league’s third-best defensive record.
The numbers:
Logan – Kostovski ‘12
Looking ahead...
It’s crunch time for Albany Creek as another failure at struggling
Brisbane Force next week could condemn them to the bottom echelons of the
table. Logan’s focus when they travel to Ipswich will be consistency, as
they’ll look to string their third consecutive win.
Capalaba 1:2 Rochedale Rovers
Second-half goals from John Thompson and Rhys Hastings helped Rochedale
to a come from behind victory at John Fredericks Park on Saturday night.
Everyone will be talking about…
Hastings’ late goal breaking Capalaba hearts. With the match being as
evenly matched a contest as it gets, Hastings’ strike was a bitter blow for the
hosts who could have easily grabbed a winner themselves.
Yeah, but what happened?
Rochedale have been plagued by inconsistency this season and a change in
form for the team that overcame UQ last week didn’t seem likely after the
opening stanza. Rovers were outrun and outmuscled in midfield, as Capalaba’s
Scott Sargent was an ever-present dictator in the middle, while Joel Drewek the
unlikely goalscorer midway through the half. Rochedale picked themselves up
after the break and began stringing a sequence of attacks that looked likely to
soon produce an equaliser. It came through Thompson, whose shot took a wicked
deflection to trickle past Dogs custodian Brody Sams. Both sides had chances to
win it after that, but Capalaba missed theirs and Hastings took his, lurking in
the penalty area and coolly dispatching once in possession.
The numbers:
Capalaba – Drewek ‘27
Rovers – Thomspon ’60; Hastings ‘84
Looking ahead...
Capalaba deserved more out of this match and will surely collect all
three points when they host UQ nest week, while Rovers face a tricky trip to
Easts.
Brisbane Force 1:3 North
Star
North Star produced a convincing display in this bottom of the table
clash to leapfrog their opponents and breathe life into their campaign.
Everyone will be talking about…
Star’s impressive performance in front of goal. Having only scored ten
goals in the opening nine matches, visiting supporters could have been forgiven
for expecting another goalless evening at half time. How they were proven
wrong.
Yeah, but what happened?
A dour first-half display from both sides was all but forgotten after an
exhilarating second 45. Mikhail Hastings broke the deadlock for the visitors
shortly after the restart - proving just the confidence boost they required.
Star went on to dominate proceedings and a devastating three-minute scoring
spree saw Jacob Sullivan and Aaron Wemyss round off a perfect 3-0 scoreline.
Star will be disappointed their clean sheet was denied by a Force goal in
stoppage time, but nonetheless will be overjoyed with their second-half team
performance.
The numbers:
Star – Hastings ’50; Sullivan ’68; Milne ‘71
Looking ahead...
Force will see next week’s visit of Albany Creek as a chance to bounce
back after this disappointing performance and result, while Star welcome an
in-from Peninsula Power to O’Callaghan Park.
UQ FC 0:4 Peninsula Power
Peninsula Power ran riot in the second half to stay in touch with the
top two and inflict another heavy defeat on UQ.
Everyone will be talking about…
Power’s impressive run of form and defensive stability. The Kippa-Ring
side are undefeated in their last four outings, winning three of those and
accumulating three clean sheets in the process.
Yeah, but what happened?
A positive start by Power and an early goal from Shaun Feuerriegel was
as good as it got in the first half, as the visitors squandered several chances
to extend their lead before the break. The missed opportunities were all but
forgotten in the second half, as Joshua Ahern’s early goal set the trend for
the remainder of the match. By the time the game entered its final 20 minutes,
Myles Carseldine and Todd Gava had piled on further misery on UQ, who
restricted any further scoring in the closing stages.
The numbers:
Power – Feuerriegel ’14; Ahern ’56; Carsledine ’66; Gava ‘69
Looking ahead...
UQ’s long wait for a point this season looks set to
continue when they travel to Capalaba next week, while Power will be firm
favourites at North Star.
 |
| First half equalizer from Eastern Suburbs not enough |
Eastern Suburbs 1:3 Lions FC
Second-half goals from Greg Thomas and Shoheel Khan handed Lions a vital
three points to maintain their grip on first place ahead of next week’s crunch
match at Wolves.
Everyone will be talking about…
Job well done in a prelude to next week’s blockbuster. With Wolves
already winning (against Ipswich) and occupying first spot, all the pressure
was on Lions to regain their lead and maintain momentum.
Yeah, but what happened?
Easts flexed their muscle early on and should have capitalised on a
number of goal-scoring opportunities. The visitors slowly grew into the match
and as all good sides do, contained pressure and pounced at a chance when it
opened. Andrew Butler put Lions in front, only for Thomas Johnstone to even the
half-time scores up five minutes later. It was a much more fluent performance by
Lions in the second 45, as the ever-green Greg Thomas put them in front before
Shoheel Khan made sure of the win late on.
The numbers:
Easts – Johnstone ‘39
Lions – Butler ’34; Thomas ’54; Khan ‘86
Looking ahead...
Both sides face big challenges next week, with
Easts entertaining Rochedale for a potential place in the top four, while Lions
is travelling to Wolves for what is being dubbed as the showdown of the year so
far.
