August 12, 2013
by Martin Stern
Football South Burnett
Barambah is hosting the 2013 Evolution Solar South Burnett Football League Semi Finals this Sunday in what will be a huge day of football at Murgon Showground.
There will be six matches starting from 9:00am with Elimination and Qualification matches.
The first match of the day is the 2nd Division Elimination match between Barambah and Wests.
Wests’ seconds have not won a match this season and Barambah have been in good form.
I’m tipping a Barambah win although anything can happen in finals football.
In the qualifying match, Nanango plays Gunners. I am tipping Nanango to just get over the top of Gunners.
Playing on a smaller field will help Nanango’s cause but this one could easily go to extra time or penalties.
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The women’s semi finals are a duplicate of the last round of the season.
Barambah play Gunnettes who have struggled to get numbers and results this season; they have also lost Chrissy McBride who is out of the team due to injury.
The last time these two met Barambah won 5-0, with Gunnettes only having seven or eight players.
Hopefully Gunnettes will turn up with a full squad but I am tipping an ever improving Barambah to do the business on their home ground.
In the qualification game, Wests play Nanango in what should be a very close game.
Wests are the only team to have beaten Nanango this season, one of those was the President’s Cup Final in a penalty shoot out.
Last time the two met, Wests were without a few of their players including their goal-scoring machine Jacqui Trace and Nanango won 3-0.
With Wests having a full squad this game is too close to call.
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The 1st Division Elimination game between Wests and Barambah should be another tight match.
Wests have improved a lot in the past few weeks but results have not gone their way.
The last time these two played it was 2-2.
Much will depend how the Barambah players that double up from Second Division recover.
I am tipping Wests to rise to the occasion, but it will be close and anything can happen on the day.
The last game of the day is the Qualification Semi Final between Gunners and Nanango and it should be a top game.
Gunners have lost Bailey Raines and Ryan Mooney for the season and several others are on the path to recovery.
It has been a dreadful season as far as injuries go for Gunners.
Nanango are not looking quite so good without striker Justin Mangan, who is recovering from a knee reconstruction.
However, others have stepped up for both teams.
I am leaning slightly towards Nanango to win this game, but write off Gunners at your own peril.
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Good luck to all the players, coaches, refs, and officials.
It should be a great day and the weather forecast is looking good so far.
So get down to Murgon Showground this Sunday and give yourself a treat to some fine football.
Barambah do a great job of hosting, there will be plenty of food and licensed bar, so see you there!
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Evolution Solar Football League Semi Finals, Sunday August 18 at Murgon Showground:
- 9:00am – 2nd Division Elimination Semi-Final – Barambah v Wests
- 11:00am – 2nd Division Qualifying Semi-Final – Nanango v Gunners
- 1:00pm – Women’s Elimination Semi-Final – Barambah v Gunnettes
- 3:00pm – Women’s Qualifying Semi-Final – Nanango v Wests
- 5:00pm – 1st Division Elimination Semi-Final – Wests v Barambah
- 7:00pm – 1st Division Qualifying Semi-Final – Nanango v Gunners
