Some big clashes at the top and some intriguing clashes at the bottom this week as the big names start to find their feet and begin their promotion charge at the expense of their nearest rivals, starting with a tricky tie for the Power at Teralba Park on Friday Night Football.
Mitchelton vs Peninsula Power
Teralba Park
Friday, 18 May, 8:15pm
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Will Peninsula Power on?
After seeing off the challenge of Sunshine Coast Wanderers last weekend, Peninsula Power extended their unbeaten run to a whopping 12 games to stay 10 points clear of nearest challengers Rochedale Rovers.
Sixth-placed Mitchelton have claimed some impressive scalps on their current six game unbeaten streak, including both Capalaba and Logan Lightning in consecutive games at Teralba Park and could pose a threat to a Power side that struggled to a 2-1 win at AJ Kelly Park in Round 1.
Wolves vs Capalaba
Carmichael Park
Saturday, 19 May, 6:00pm
Will Wolves hound Bulldogs?
After losing their opening five games, Wolves have surged up the table off the back of a five game winning run that was ended last week by Souths United.
Wolves have lost just twice at Carmichael Park this season as they welcome a Capalaba side that are on a five game losing run, in which they have failed to find the back of the net three times.
The Bulldogs will be hoping to arrest the slide and bounce back after last week’s disappointing 6-0 defeat at Heath Park.
Southside Eagles vs Ipswich Knights
Perry Park
Saturday, 19 May, 6:00pm
Can the Eagles slay the Knights?
Southside Eagles host consecutive matches at Perry Park for the first time this season after last week’s 5-2 victory over Wide Bay. The hosts will look to win successive matches for the first time this season against a Knights side winless in their last nine games.
The Knights have begun to find the back of the net again after failing to score in five games with six goals in their past four matches, although that will amount to nothing unless they can sort out a defence that has conceded twenty goals in those same four games.
The Knights ran out 3-1 victors in front of the Football Queensland live stream cameras in Round 1 but have only managed to pick up a further four points all season.
Holland Park Hawks vs Wide Bay Buccaneers
Whites Hill Reserve 2
Saturday, 19 May, 6:00pm
Can the Buccs topple rusty Hawks?
The Hawks will play their first game in 21 days this Saturday night and the Buccaneers will be hoping they’ll take their time to find their feet as the Wide Bay side continue to search for their first points of the season.
The tenth-placed Hawks did pick up a 3-2 win last time out against Southside Eagles to record their second home victory of the season and will hope to repeat the dose in this potentially tricky encounter.
Rochedale Rovers vs Souths United
Underwood Park
Saturday, 19 May, 6:15pm
Can Rovers maintain pressure on Power?
Second-placed Rochedale Rovers have been flying in recent weeks, scoring 15 goals in four games since the bye and will be favourites to continue that run against a Souths side that have won just two of their last six matches.
However Souths have plenty of fire power of their own to play with, including Josh Anderson who has scored four goals in his last three games to go level in the club’s goalscoring charts with Kado Aoci on seven.
Eastern Suburbs vs Logan Lightning
Heath Park
Saturday, 19 May, 6:30pm
Easts look to extend run
Logan dropped out of the top four for the first time since Round 7 after their surprise 3-1 defeat at Teralba Park last weekend, to be replaced their hosts on Saturday night, Eastern Suburbs.
The resurgent Eastern Suburbs side has now won their last six games, scoring an amazing 44 goals thanks in part to Jordan Farina and Youeil Shol netting ten goals each in just five games.
The two sides shared an entertaining 3-3 draw at Chris Green Park on the opening round of the season and you’d bet on there being plenty of goals in this one as well.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers – BYE
Sunshine Coast Wanderers will lick their wounds after their heartbreaking defeat to table-topping Peninsula Power last weekend, but could find themselves outside the top four by the time they take on Mitchelton next week at Ballinger Park.
Words: Simon Smale
Image: Patrick Kearney
