.gif "Sack Attack: An A-League Webcomic")
UQ FC 2:5
Rochedale Rovers
Rochedale
Rovers secured fourth spot and a place in the finals with a convincing win away
to UQ.
Everyone
will be talking about…
After an
indifferent season of inconsistency, Rochedale are in the finals – can they now
challenge the top three?
Yeah, but
what happened?
Rovers
were desperate to leave no door open for Easts to have a chance of snatching
fourth spot next week. The all-whites got off to a flyer with Joshua Falco and
Shanjeev Henny netting two early goals in as many minutes. Ryan Solter pulled
one back for the hosts to give them hope at the break, but a brace from Ryota
Nokaooka and a Matt Thompson strike blew out the scoreline. Jibril Athumani
scored a second for the students after the hour mark, but the damage was done
by then.
The
numbers:
UQ – Solter
’41; Athumani ‘66
Rochedale
– Falco ’16; Henny ’17; Nokaooka ’48, ’55; Thompson ‘61
Looking
ahead...
Rochedale
face the perfect preparation for the finals when they host Capalaba this
weekend, while UQ travel to finals-bound Power.
Capalaba 0:4 Lions FC
Lions FC
secured the BPL minor premiership in their first season back in the league with
a 4-0 mauling of Capalaba.
Everyone
will be talking about…
Arguably
seen as on-par with Wolves in terms of entertainment value, Graham Ross’ men
proved they’re worthy winners as the most consistent side, wrapping up the
league with a round to go.
Yeah, but
what happened?
It was
always going to be a nervy opening period for Lions, knowing any slip-up would
most likely be pounced upon by Wolves. A tense half-hour drew to a close and
the visiting bench were on their feet soon after to celebrate Kentaro Ishikawa’s
well-taken opening goal. The opener took Capalaba by surprise, as the Dogs had
settled into the game well – but soon went further behind. Jackson Dixon-Best
netted a second before the break to give the visitors breathing space. The
result was all but sealed on the hour, when Shoheel Khan prodded home, before
Andre Butler made it 4-0 minutes later.
The
numbers:
Lions – Ishikawa
’34; Dixon-Best ’40; Khan ’58; Butler ‘62
Looking
ahead...
It
will be interesting to see if Lions rest any players when Easts visit this
weekend, while Capalaba travel to Rochedale.
 |
| Lions celebrate the much anticipated winners' trip to Maccas. Photo: Ian Judd - FB Media |
Logan
Lightning 6:1 North Star
Logan
secured at least a 7th placed finish with a brace from Daniel Clark
and Petar Kostovski highlighting a demolition of North Star.
Everyone
will be talking about…
It’s been
a solid first season in the BPL for Logan –can they now pip Capalaba for 6th?
Yeah, but
what happened?
Logan
looked the dominant side from the outset, but North Star took the lead against
the run of play when Pettegree slotted home in the 20th minute. It
was the last time the visitors would be celebrating anything other than the
final whistle for the night, as Logan turned in six unanswered goals. Clark
scored a brace before the break to flip the result around, soon followed by
Kostovski’s own double. With the three points sealed, Logan were enjoying themselves
and late goals to Phillip Randal and Max Brown ballooned the scoreline even
further.
The
numbers:
Logan – Clark
’27, ’45; Kostovski ’57, ’78; Randal ’85; Brown ‘89
Star – Pettegree
‘20
Looking
ahead...
Logan
will hope Capalaba fail on their trip to Rochedale next week, as if they do –
victory against visiting Albany Creek will ensure them a commendable 6th
place finish. Star must avoid defeat when Brisbane Force visits, otherwise they
will plummet to 2nd from bottom.
Eastern Suburbs 3:2 Ipswich Knights
An agonising
late Ipswich own goal handed Easts victory in a pulsating encounter consisting
of five second half goals.
Everyone
will be talking about…
A season
that came just short for Easts, after kicking-off as one of the favourites to
be involved in the finals.
Yeah, but
what happened?
A tight
first half was all but forgotten as soon as Knights’ Jonas Rasmussen turned in
the opener on the hour. Easts hit back with great effect through Ryan Stenhouse
and Daniel Cunha, but Ipswich were celebrating what they thought would be a
certain share of the spoils when Jye Magarry made it 2-2 with four minutes to
play. But the match took another cruel twist for Ispwich, who blundered home an
own goal in the second minute of stoppage time.
The
numbers:
Easts – Stenhouse
’72; Cunha ’78; OG ‘90+2
Ipswich –
Rasmussen ’61; Magarry ‘86
Looking
ahead...
Easts’
trip to Lions this weekend may provide a glimmer of what could have been, while
Ipswich face another stern test when they welcome Wolves.
Wolves FC 4:1 Albany
Creek
A Kado
Aoci hat-trick propelled ten-man Wolves past Albany Creek, who will finish in 9th
position.
Everyone
will be talking about…
What a
year Aoci has had in front of goal – this weekend’s hat-trick marked his 33rd
goal in the 2013 BPL.
Yeah, but
what happened?
Knowing
the minor premiership had slipped away from them the previous day, Wolves were
hungry to keep momentum up for their Grand Final title tilt. It looked like a
routine victory with half an hour gone, as Kado Aoci had a brace next to his
name – one from the penalty spot – and Creek lacked a cutting edge up front.
But within minutes the outlook changed, as Drew Jeskey was shown red and James
Walker pulled a goal back for Creek on the stroke of half-time. Not to be
ridden in panic, Wolves showed their class and composure, sealing the result
within ten minutes of the restart with strikes from Aoci and Alex Janovsky.
The
numbers:
Wolves –
Aoci ‘3, ‘29(pen), ’53; Janovsky ‘55
Creek –
Walker ‘45+1
Looking
ahead...
Both
teams are on the road to mid-table opposition this week, with Wolves travelling
to Ipswich and Creek taking on Logan.
Brisbane
Force 1:6 Peninsula Power
A
hat-trick from Ally Graham and a Scott Macnicol brace saw Power demolish
Brisbane Force and secure a 3rd place finish.
Everyone
will be talking about…
Power’s
dream second half of the season – can they now go on with it in September?
Yeah, but
what happened?
Peninsula
seemed to have one thing on their mind in this match – goals, and they delivered.
Ally Graham got the ball rolling as early as the third minute, but Force were
soon level through Samuel Chesterfield. Michael Butters responded immediately
for the visitors, who extended their lead when Graham doubled his account.
There was still time for Scott Macnicol to get in on the act before the break,
in what was a turning into a blow out. So it proved, with Macnicol and Graham
grabbing one more apiece in the second stanza.
The
numbers:
Force –
Chesterfield ‘9
Power –
Graham ‘4, ’33, ’72; Butters ’16; Macnicol ’44, ‘59
Looking
ahead...
After
a difficult first season in the BPL, Force have a chance to end on high an
overtake North Star with a win at O’Callaghan Park this weekend. Power host the
other side in the bottom three – cellar dwellers UQ.
