THE task facing ACE Reserves on Saturday is simple – they must win.
Victory over Premier League Reserves leaders Toowong at Wolter Park (kick-off 3.45pm) will secure two trophies.
ACE will win the Reserves’ premiership, for a second successive season – and clinch the Brisbane Club Championship, for a second successive season.
Defeat may let Taringa Reserves sneak through above ACE into second!
However, Cristian Sorbello’s team goes into this weekend’s decider in fine form having won nine and drawn three of its last 12 fixtures.
And the coach, in his first season in charge, says he will change nothing for Saturday.
“Throughout the season we have taken each game as it has come and just focussed on our game plan,” he said.
“We will all be feeling the pressure. It’s been a long season and the amount of work everyone has put in will hopefully be worth it.”
That effort has seen the Ressies climb from ninth after round two, to second following round five and then, but for a couple of weeks, always being in the top four.
The rise has not surprised coach Cristian: “We have a great squad between tops and reserves,” he said.
“Everyone has been focussed on one thing and that’s ensuring both teams are competitive throughout both leagues and achieving the results for both ourselves and the club.”
ACE Reserves have few injuries to affect team selection and will be looking to go one better than the 1-1 draw at Dunmore Park in May.
On that day ACE stopped the division’s leading scorer Tom Lister (12 goals) and third-placed Ben Stanley (9 goals) from scoring.
In contrast, ACE’s goals are widespread. Top scorer is Matt Andrews in sixth place with eight, followed by Adam Naddei 7; Ryan Thomas 6; Ethan Bryant 5; Andrew Ford, Dom De Luca, Josh Hall, Kris Lane and Tom Gilbert 4.
