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Capalaba kept in touch with the top four, while Easts fell further behind. Finally, one of the most agonising run of results came to an end, as Albany Creek – who won five consecutive matches to open their season – ended their ten-match losing streak.
Logan Lightning 2:1 Eastern Suburbs
A devastating three minute second half cameo from Phillip Randal handed
Logan an impressive victory against an in-form Easts side.
Everyone will be talking about…
Randal’s magic brace. Stunning the visitors ten minutes into the second
half, the Tigers were ultimately unable to come back.
Yeah, but what happened?
The first half proved fruitless, although both sides flexed their muscle
and showed promising signs in the final third. It all came together for Logan
shortly after the start of the second period, as Randal was able to expertly
finish two successive chances and leave Easts with too much to do to claw their
way back. Ryan Stenhouse restored hope after the hour, but Lightning held out
to keep their slim chances of a late-season top four revival alive.
The numbers:
Logan – Randall ’55, ‘57
Easts – Stenhouse ‘64
Looking ahead...
Logan have it all to do to back up this result when they travel to
Wolves next round, while Easts must win at home to Force to avoid slipping
further behind the top four.
Peninsula Power 1:3 Rochedale
Rovers
Rochedale produced a scintillating opening thirty minutes of football
that included three goals to overcome a stunned Power side that were on a seven
match winning streak.
Everyone will be talking about…
Rochedale’s late season revival. Looking out of sorts for the majority
of the season, Rovers have started turning in performances reminiscent of
recent years.
Yeah, but what happened?
Rochedale turned in arguably their best 30 minutes of football for the
whole season in the opening stanza of the match. Christopher Maher got the ball
rolling in the seventh minute with a cool finish past Jake Reesby. Rhys
Hastings doubled Rovers’ lead barely eight minutes later and by the time he
smashed in his second and Rochedale’s third in front of a shell-shocked crowd,
the result was all but over. Michael Baird’s converted penalty before the break
gave Power a lifeline but Rochedale’s defence stood firm in the second half and
the scoreboard did not endure any changes.
The numbers:
Power – Baird ‘43(p)
Rovers – Maher ‘7; Hastings ’15, ‘23
Looking ahead...
Power’s magic run is over and they’ll be eager to avoid a slump in form in
the run in to the finals, starting at Capalaba next weekend. Rochedale have a
big chance to make it three wins on the trot when struggling North Star visit
Underwood Park.
Brisbane Force 2:5 Capalaba
Capalaba ran out comfortable winners over Brisbane Force to remain in
fifth and keep their finals dreams alive.
Everyone will be talking about…
Have the Dogs got enough in the tank? Their inconsistent results see
them sit four points adrift of fourth-placed Rovers, albeit with an extra match
played. With a tough run-in including matches against Power, Lions and Rochedale,
Capalaba look likely to narrowly miss out on finals football for the second year
running.
Yeah, but what happened?
Capalaba blew Force out of the blocks and powered to a two goal lead
within six minutes thanks to strikes from ever-reliable contributors Scott
Sargent and Antony Schiavo. Lachlan Munn looked to have brought Force back into
the contest in the 23rd minute, but another goal from Xavier Lopez
restored the visitors’ two-goal lead at the break. It was a comfortable second
half for Capalaba, who dominated possession and heaped further misery on Force
through Shahd Herbert and Lopez’s second. Travis Jackson’s goal with ten
minutes to play somewhat improved the look of the scoreboard for the hosts, but
they were undeniably outplayed by a classier side.
The numbers:
Force – Munn ’23; Jackson ‘80
Capalaba – Sargent ‘3; Schiavo ‘6; Lopez ’38, ’72; Herbert ‘64
Looking ahead...
Second-last Force are simply playing for pride until season’s close and
they’ll be looking to upset finals-chasing Easts on the road next week.
Capalaba host a crunch match with Power.
 |
| Josh Sherwood grabbed two assists. Photo: Ian Judd - FB Media |
UQFC 1:5 Wolves FC
Wolves produced a memorable second half to thump five goals past UQ and
keep the pressure on leaders Lions, whom they trail by three points, albeit
with a game in hand.
Everyone will be talking about…
Wolves’ prolific season in front of goal. Sam Saif’s men have now
notched up 64 goals in just 15 matches – a staggering average of over four
goals per game.
Yeah, but what happened?
For all of Wolves’ first half pressure, they could not muster a result
in front of goal and many of the home fans would have been wondering if the
students could conjure a memorable result. All but 20 minutes into the second
half their hopes would have been dashed, as the ever-so-deadly Kado Aoci added
a further two goals to his growing season tally. Alex Janovsky was next to
notch a brace – doing so in a devastating five minute spell. Trent Clulow put
the icing on the cake with four minutes left to play, before Daniel
Stewart-McLean denied Matthew Carr a clean sheet.
The numbers:
UQ – Stewart-McLean ‘88
Wolves – Aoci ’55, ’66; Janovsky ’74, ’78; Clulow ‘86
Looking ahead...
UQ face a tough trip away to Ipswich next week, while Wolves welcome
Logan in what is expected to be another routine victory at Carmichael Park.
Albany Creek 4:1 Ipswich Knights
Albany Creek have ended their ten-match losing streak in style, beating
Ipswich in front of a rejuvenated home crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Everyone will be talking about…
One of the longest running losing streaks is over. It’s been a while
since Creek were top of the table after five consecutive wins at the start of
the season – finally their supporters have something to cheer about again.
Yeah, but what happened?
Creek got off to the best possible start through Kris Hartas and James
Walker – the duo opening up a two goal lead for the hosts within 16 minutes of
the start. Matthew Flick pulled one back for Ipswich three minutes later and
the match endured a nervy end to the opening half. But it was all Creek in the
second stanza, as further strikes from Mitchell Bevan and Samuel Corcoran blew
the score open and handed the hosts their first taste of victory in three
months.
The numbers:
Creek – Hartas ’13; Walker ’16; Bevan ‘58; Corcoran ‘65
Ipswich – Flick ‘19
Looking ahead...
Creek have a tough task to follow up this result – they travel to
leaders Lions. Meanwhile, Ipswich take on the other end of the table, hosting
bottom-placed UQ.
North Star 0:5 Lions FC
League leader Lions made sure they would remain top of the table with a
classic 5:0 victory over a hapless North Star at O’Callaghan Park.
Everyone will be talking about…
Can Lions hold on to top place. With a slender three point lead over
Wolves – who have a game in hand – coupled with last round’s loss to Power
(their first of the season), Lions must remain as composed as they looked in
this match for the rest of the season.
Yeah, but what happened?
It was an all round comfortable day for Graham Ross’ men, who opened the
scoring through Shoheel Khan within ten minutes. Danny Ngalaufe doubled their
lead right before the break to relieve any tension and it showed after the
restart – Kentaro Ishikawa and Liam Hayden making it 4:0 by the hour mark.
Andrew Butler added a fifth late on to complete the perfect score and performance.
The numbers:
Lions – Khan ‘8; Ngalaufe ’44; Ishikawa ’55; Hayden ’60; Butler ‘82
Looking ahead...
It’s damage limitation for
North Star from now until the end of the season – they travel to Rochedale next
week. On the other hand the pressure couldn’t be higher on Lions, who cannot
afford to slip up as they try to hold on to first place, starting with their
game against visitors Albany Creek.