Upsets open up battle for title
THROW out the form guide, there’s more twists and turns in this FNQ Football Premier Men’s season than the road up the Gillies Range.
Round 11 was billed as one of the most pivotal of the season but in the end two upsets provided no clues as to who will emerge on top, or even in the top four, come the end of the season.
Leichhardt shocked Mareeba 3-2, Marlin Coast beat Stratford 2-0 and then Innisfail won away to Southside in a crazy round.
Marlin Coast coach Stuart Veall labelled his side’s win over the defending premiers as “easy” and felt their best was yet to come.
“We dominated everywhere. My team played really well and I was missing three of my best players,” he said.
“I haven’t yet put my best team on the park, which is worrying because I know it’s coming.
“The best is yet to come and I’m quite happy with it. We’re just cruising mate.
“I think I’ve just got good structures and the players are understanding the formation I want to play.”
Mareeba could have gone top had they beaten Leichhardt but the perennial bogey side struck again to the disappointment of the crowd at Lindsay Australia Stadium.
The Lions took a 2-0 lead shortly after halftime before Robert Pendenza scored a much-needed captain’s goal for the Bulls to bring it back to a one-goal deficit.
Tensions rose in the 84th minute when Mareeba’s David Ruiz took exception to being fouled in a contest with Nathan Phelps, lashing out with a Leichhardt 3 Marlin Coast 2 d Stratford 0 Innisfail United 4 d Southside 2 Edge Hill 6 Leichhardt 4 d Mareeba 2 d Mareeba 0 Stratford 3 d Marlin Coast 1 Innisfail 2
d Southside 1 boot while on the ground, prompting a reaction from the Leichhardt No. 7 and the referee had no hesitation showing red cards to each.
Ruiz was only two games back from a red card suspension stemming from the heated battle with Stratford in Round 8.
The teams traded goals at the end of regulation but Leichhardt held on for their second win of the season.
A reborn Innisfail United now sits atop the ladder but any of the top five could lay claim to the No. 1 mantle.