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Albany Creek 0:1 UQFC
UQ ended a 14-match losing streak and recorded their first points of the
season, as a lone Daniel Stewart-McLean goal trumped Albany Creek.
Everyone will be talking about…
One of the longest running winless streaks in BPL history is over – UQ have
points on the board.
Yeah, but what happened?
Coming up against an Albany Creek side who have equally struggled over
the past two months – losing nine straight matches – Uni must have felt they
had a legitimate chance to grab a result. After showing much improvement of
late and narrowly missing out on points, the students looked the hungrier throughout
the game. In the end, it was a matter of chances (or in this case – chance)
taken, as Stewart-McLean swept home the only strike of the match midway through
the second period. UQ’s task of holding on to their lead was made that bit
harder when Nathan Lamont was shown red five minutes later. But this was a priceless
lead and the students held on with tenacity. The final whistle was met with
great jubilation by the visitors, while Creek must wonder how their season
suddenly turned south over two months ago.
The numbers:
UQ – Stewart-McLean ‘66
Looking ahead...
Creek are in all sorts of disarray and need a lifeline when they welcome
Ipswich next week, while UQ face a hostile follow-up to their first win of the
season – a home clash against Wolves.
 |
| UQ's Daniel Stewart-McLean wriggles free before unleashing the match-winner. |
Capalaba 5:2 Logan Lightning
Capalaba kept in touch with the top four after downing visiting Logan,
with six goals notched up in the first 45 minutes at John Fredericks Park on
Saturday night.
Everyone will be talking about…
A mad half of football. Early goals, a penalty, twists and turns and a
4-2 scoreline rounded off a mouth-watering first stanza.
Yeah, but what happened?
Capalaba hit the ground running as early as the third minute through
Antony Schiavo, but Logan responded immediately – Daniel Clark equalising a
minute later. Schaivo had a chance to grab a brace from the penalty spot twenty
minutes later and the prolific striker made no mistake. Capalaba raised the
intensity in the latter stages of the half and increased their lead through a
neat finish from Josh Sherwood. But Logan would not lie down – Clark netting
his second with a minute to go. Incredibly, there was still time for one more
goal – Scott Sargent restoring Capalaba’s two goal advantage in stoppage time.
The second half was more subdued as Capalaba looked to maintain control of possession.
They did so effectively and Xavier Lopez rounded off the result with 15 minutes
to play.
The numbers:
Capalaba – Schiavo ‘3, ‘23p; Sherwood ’39; Sargent ‘45+1; Lopez ‘74
Logan – Clark ‘4, ‘44
Looking ahead...
The Dogs will not want any slip-ups as they look to keep pace with the
top four – they must win when they welcome Brisbane Force next week. Logan have
the tougher task on paper – hosting an in-form Easts at Chris Green Park.
Rochedale Rovers 2:0 Brisbane Force
Rochedale secured all three points at home against Brisbane Force,
thanks to late strikes from Shu Karauchi and Jason Launchbury.
Everyone will be talking about…
Rochedale are back in the top four. After showing indifferent form of
late, two consecutive wins coupled with clean sheets leave the all whites in
good stead for the finals run-in.
Yeah, but what happened?
As much as Rochedale tried to impose their passing game and offensive movements,
Force proved a formidable defensive unit for the majority of the match.
Desperate and lucky at times, the second-from-bottom visitors looked like they
might escape Underwood Park with a point. But persistence prevailed for the
hosts, as Karauchi opened the scoring ten minutes before full-time. Launchbury
made sure of the win eight minutes later, to the delight of the home
supporters.
The numbers:
Rochedale – Karauchi ’79; Launchbury ‘87
Looking ahead...
Rochedale face a mammoth task of maintaining their clean sheet streak
when they travel to a red hot Peninusla Power next week. Brisbane Force will be
eager to maintain their solidity for the full 90 minutes against visiting Capalaba.
Eastern Suburbs 0:2 Wolves FC
Goals from Drew Jeskey and Kado Aoci handed Wolves a vital win on the
road to fellow top-four challengers Easts.
Everyone will be talking about…
Daniel Cunha’s red card. Already chasing the game, Easts’ task was made
near impossible when Kunha was given his marching orders in the 75th
minute.
Yeah, but what happened?
Much was expected prior to these two in-form teams’ meeting at Heath Park.
The hype did not disappoint, with a fierce tussle forming in the middle of the
park and both defences breaking up oppositions’ attacks. Wolves did enjoy more
chances and punished their hosts on the hour mark – Drew Jeskey netting to the
delight of the travelling supporters. Ten-men Easts pressed for an equaliser
and threw bodies forward in the closing stages – leaving themselves vulnerable
at the back. There’s no better man in the BPL than Aoci to snap on such
opportunity – he made no mistake to wrap up the result three minutes from time.
The numbers:
Wolves – Jeskey ’61; Aoci ‘87
Looking ahead...
This result sees the Tigers drop out of the top four – they need to win
at Logan next week to keep in touch with Rochedale in fourth. Wolves will be
firm favourites for another win at UQ.
Ipswich Knights 2:1 North Star
Ipswich produced the goods in an eventful second half to grab all three
points against North Star and keep alive their hopes of a finals berth.
Everyone will be talking about…
Ipswich’s response to last week’s 0-6 mauling at Power. The Knights
seemed undeterred and composed a week on from their heaviest defeat of the
season – doing enough to seal all three points.
Yeah, but what happened?
The first 45 was a tight affair with neither team imposing themselves in
the final third. The match opened up after the break and Keita Furuie smashed
home the opener right before the hour mark. North Star tried to claw their way
back but it was Ipswich who always looked the more likely to kill off the
result –eventually doing so through Ben Hunt. Andrew Puckett pulled one back
for Star moments later, but it was too little too late as all three points
stayed in Ipswich and kept the Knights just five points behind Rochedale in
fourth.
The numbers:
Ipswich – Furuie ’58; Hunt ‘79
Star – Puckett ‘83
Looking ahead...
Ipswich have a real chance to make it two wins on the trot when they
travel to struggling Albany Creek next week, while North Star face a tough task
entertaining Lions.
Lions FC 1:3 Peninsula Power
Peninsula Power produced arguably their finest performance of the year
to hand league leader Lions their first loss of the season and close in to
within four points off the top of the table.
Everyone will be talking about…
Not just the win, but the dominant manner with which it was achieved.
Power tore Lions apart in their own backyard and threw the title race wide
open.
Yeah, but what happened?
Having won their last six matches, Peninsula were by no means daunted at
the prospect of travelling to face the league leaders. They made the perfect
start, imposing themselves with the majority of possession and chances in the
opening half hour. All that culminated in the perfect goal scoring opportunity when
the visitors were awarded a penalty – Michael Baird confidently converting.
Confidence was noticeably riding high throughout the Power squad and shortly
after they put together a neat move to set up Todd Gava for a 2:0 scoreline at
half time. Lions were truly dominated for the first time this season and it got
worse after the restart, with Shaun Feuerriegel making it three goals and a
certain three points. Liam Hayden did mange to grab a consolation 15 minutes
from time but this was Power’s day and their seventh straight victory.
The numbers:
Lions – Hayden ‘75
Power – Baird ‘30p; Gava ’38; Feuerriegel ‘59
Looking ahead...
Lions now sit just three points above Wolves, who have a game in hand –
they cannot afford a slip-up at North Star next week. Power are the in-form
team in the league alongside Wolves and will line up as favourites when they
welcome Rochedale to AJ Kelly Park.
