By Chris Webb

Wagga City Wanderers vs Queanbeyan City | Saturday, 1^st June – 3pm @ Gissing Oval

City hit the road to face fellow New South Welshmenn, the Wagga City Wanderers, out at Gissing Oval. Both sides are coming off disheartening losses, with both shipping five goals in the process. It wasn’t quite a straight forward story with Wagga, who looked impressive for large parts in their clash against Weston Molonglo. The forward quartet of Jake Ploenges, Frank Magias and the Gardner brothers were dangerous throughout, with a towering Ploenges header and Fred Gardner’s raking strike grabbing some consolation. City, the reigning Premiers, meanwhile are in a bad way with just a solitary win over the last placed Brindabella and if they want to make something of this season they need to turn a corner fast. Last year their victorious season was based on a rock solid defence, however they have shipped 18 goals already in six matches this term. Goran Josifovski’s side will need to contain the Wanderers’ quartet if they have any change of taking the biscuits here.

 

Narrabundah vs Weston Molonglo | Saturday, 1^st June – 3pm @ Narrabundah

The Bulls host Weston at the pristine Narrabundah fields on Saturday in the ‘Tate/Lopera Cup’. Narrabundah had a disappointing trip out to Goulburn, losing 1-0 to the Steamers and equally as damaging, losing star front man Liam Boyle to suspension. The Magpies quickly erased the embarrassment of their 5-0 capitulation at Hawker Football Centre to ANU by scoring five of their own against Wagga with the front three of Sellers, Clifton and Hynes in full swing. Weston will be missing a striker of their own with reigning golden boot Andrew Sellers now overseas. Narrabundah have a good home record against Weston, including an emphatic 4-0 victory last season, and will be looking to continue the trend. Keeping eleven on the park is essential for the Bulls, so they will need to ensure emotions don’t ‘Boyle’ over.

 

White Eagles vs O’Connor Knights | Saturday, 1^st June – 3pm @ Woden Park

Its derby time, as the leagues two biggest rivals meet for the first time this season. The Knights make the daunting trip to the Eyrie off the back of a strong 4-0 win while the Eagles come in off the bye but remain at the summit of the table. In the absence of the Knights’ speedster Josip Jadric, Greg Bullock is looking to cement his spot in the starting side by adding to his double against Brindabella. While Eagles are also missing their lead front man, rumour has it Gerri Halliwell’s second cousin ‘Moroccan Spice’ could be on his way back to the Eagles, though one thing is for sure, this match needs no extra spice! This one does have a bit of added flavour as the Knights have the opportunity to take top spot with a win over the currently undefeated Eagles, so this should have plenty of ‘flare’.

 

Brindabella Blues v Southern Tablelands | Sunday, 2^nd June – 3pm @ Everlast Enclosed

The Steam Train pulls into the Calwell station as United meet the Blues in a clash of two sides in the wrong half of the table. Jeremy Butler’s men have had a horrid start to the season, yet to pick up even a single point, but will no doubt fancy their chances against the boys from Goulburn. The Steamers picked up their second win of the season thanks to a strike from the returning Sam ‘Tubs’ Taylor, and full points again here will put them on the brink of the top four. Finding the back of the net has been difficult, as these two sides have scored just ten goals between them, so as fate will have it this surely means this one will end up an 8 goal shoot-out.