Let The Catch Ups Begin

This is the first week of catch up games before the finals and with the champions already decided there is still a lot up for grabs. Not only will there be 2 clubs fighting for 4th position over the next few weeks there is also clubs wanting to finish on some highs after sub par results this year. Prospect Knights v Somerset Sharks 3pm Prospect Park Prospect will be out to gain the 3 points this week as their finals hopes are still alive. They have 3 catch up games and winning 2 out of the 3 will see them take 4th spot off the Rangers. The Knights will be fresh after having the bye last week and the previous weeks game called off. They will be with out a few senior players this week with Mark Baker out due to work commitments along with goal keeper Galger Inns. Prospect have shown that they do deserve to be in the top 4 with some strong wins during the year and with the combination of Sean Harris and Andy Compaign up front have scored at least a dozen between the two. Somerset will be looking to continue their runs of wins after being dubbed the 2013 NPL champions. After a hard weekend and Monday of rallying the team resumed training Tuesday in preparation for the catch up games. Somerset will take the same squad to Prospect Park as they did to the NTCA last week. This is starting to cause a few head aches for the coaches as quality players are either sitting on the bench or may find them selves in reserves this week. The side wont be picked until tomorrow and with bogy conditions expected this will play part in the squad being selected. Devonport v Burnie United 4pm Valley Road With the NPL playing after the V League this should be a good contest. As stated in the rules any one in the V League squad can go up but they cant come down. So with the game after the V League Devonport will have to pick wisely who they put into the squad. The Strikers had a good win last week easily accounting for the under par Launceston United. Devonport will want to cement 3rd spot which will see it take on rival Ulverstone in the first week of the finals. With V League coach Chris McKenna now playing in the NPL, They would have to be favourites. Rod Andrews said this” With our Victory League team playing at home, Mal should have a pretty strong team at his disposal. Peter Gilham is unavailable but other than that it looks pretty strong. Last week we fielded an NPL side that would be competitive against some V League teams and while this causes us a few headaches it must be doubly frustrating for our competitors, who don't know whether they will play Under 17 Devonport or Senior Devonport from week to week. Burnie United have had a better second half of the year and will be looking to roll Devonport as they were full of confidence when the game was scheduled to play back in round 14. Key defender Peter VanEk fly’s back in today after trials with Melbourne Hearts youth team and could be a late inclusion to Uniteds squad to play a marking roll on McKenna. Aiden Smith and Brodie Best scored last week and with Trent Potts providing the link United will know they can match the Strikers. Riverside Olympic v Launceston United 2:30 pm Windsor Park In the 1st of 3 catch up games for Riverside they will be out to get maximum points this week end. They had a great fight back last week and may show where people expected them at the start of the year. Riverside have been unlucky with results and weather and will be full of confidence taking on United tomorrow at their home ground. With the pitch being to wide for United and the quality ball game Olympic provide it should be a white(orange) wash. Coach Penfold said this” Last week saw us get our first point in quite a few weeks. It wasn’t looking good early, being down 3-0 inside 10 mins. But to the boys credit they fought back and got back into the game and took the lead twice. Our lack of games in the last month allowed Ulverstone to force the draw. But its that fighting spirit that will be required to take on a hungry Launceston United. Its a battle of the cellar dwellers and it will be a hard fought contest but I fully expect our boys to come away with the 3 points. Its been a disappointing year, but we are determined to finish the year with some good performances.