Division One Preview for the Weekend of 25-26 August 2007
Beachside can take out the Division One soccer title on Saturday with a win against Northern Suburbs-DOSA at home at
The league leaders have no injuries and will field a full-strength line-up against fourth-placed DOSA.
“DOSA are always a tough side for us,” said Beachside president, John Brierley. “We beat them last time, but we won’t be taking them lightly this time.
“If we win, we’ve won the title, and then we’ll have a lash at the Premier League.
“We can’t be too cocky as we’ll have to win the next two games in the play-off and we don’t know yet who that will be against.”
DOSA will give a start 15-year-old Calvin Frith in place of Brendan Lietz, who is unavailable, while Derek Story will be playing his 249th and last match for the club.
Story hit a hat-trick last week to make it 88 goals in his career and coach Stephen Pitchford will be looking for a similar performance from him this time.
Richard Korn will be playing his 214th and final match, as will Marcus Wilde in what is his 259th game.
“Keeper Justin Farrugia plays his 100th game for the club this weekend and the team is keen to assist in a clean sheet and postpone Beachside’s premiership celebrations for another week,” said Pitchford.
“DOSA versus Beachside games have been keenly contested over the past few years and this weekend will be no different, with the boys keen to continue on from last weekend’s 4-1 second-half performance against Nelson.
“After we dumped Beachside out of the State-wide Cup on penalties, they came back to win the first league meeting, so the return battle will be a decider for this year.”
Second-placed
David McCormack is unavailable because of work commitments, but Luke Williams and Bernhard Klasen are back and, together with the in-form Huw Jarvis and Travers Wailes, will give South a formidable combination.
“It should be a good game against Hobart United, but I’m quietly confident of a result,” said
“I think the Beachside versus DOSA game will also be a good contest.”
Hobart United beat
“South Hobart will be more prepared as they are looking for first place, or to keep second place, so we will have to play tactically and play a defensive game,” said United’s Pedro Ramirez.
“Winning this game will give us a good ladder position and we are looking forward to our last challenge of the year.”
Third-placed Kingston Cannons host second-last Christian United at Sherburd on Saturday and United will welcome back Tim Wierenga and, possibly, Glenn Langerak.
David Wierenga is likely to be out because of a foot injury and Isaac Lucas is still ill, but Scott Nicholson is likely to keep his spot and Jesse Arnold is promoted after scoring twice in the reserves last week.
The remaining game of the round is at
Nelson’s Tom Roach returns from suspension, but defender Aaron Wojcik is omitted.
“The team played well in attack for the whole 90 minutes last week, but squandered a two-goal lead at half-time through some poor defending and missed numerous opportunities to score further goals,” said Nelson coach, Michael Roach.
“We’ll go into this game confident of a good showing.
“It’s the last match of the season for us and a last opportunity to show how well we can play.”
Division One Ladder (as at
|
Team |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
BeachSide |
14 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
61 |
16 |
35 |
|
|
13 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
44 |
17 |
29 |
|
|
14 |
8 |
1 |
5 |
40 |
41 |
25 |
|
Northern Suburbs DOSA |
15 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
34 |
29 |
24 |
|
|
15 |
7 |
2 |
6 |
27 |
23 |
23 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
14 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
38 |
31 |
22 |
|
Nelson Eastern Suburbs |
15 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
22 |
38 |
15 |
|
Christian United |
13 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
23 |
36 |
11 |
|
|
15 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
16 |
74 |
0 |