ACE coach Steve Glockner set his team a mighty challenge before the 2021 season – and how it’s paid off!
“I said we would probably have to go unbeaten this year to win the (BPL) premiership,” the coach said.
And that is exactly what ACE has done, possibly surpassing the coach’s expectations with 18 wins and three draws from 21 games.
That run gave ACE its third premiership in four years with four rounds in hand.
Not only that, the Reserves have mirrored the seniors also becoming unbeaten premiers with 19 wins and two draws from 21 games.
Both sides finish their remarkable regular seasons tomorrow at Wolter Park against Mt Gravatt – the Reserves at 1.30pm and Seniors at 3.30pm.
“It wasn’t good enough last season,” Steve said of 2020 when ACE were runners-up in a competition cut to 11 games by COVID.
“So we raised the bar, set our targets high. We’ve worked hard and trained like an NPL side. The Premiership is the only thing that matters.
“Anything else which comes your way is a bonus – the Canale Cup, grand finals, unbeaten runs.
“We now have a chance to win the Canale Cup and I know some players also want 100 goals.” ACE are currently on 98.
Both our sides warmed up with impressive victories over St George in midweek, the Reserves winning 7-0 and Seniors 3-0. Liam Brown, pictured top, set up the first goal and won the penalty for the second.
“St George sat deep and defended, trying to hit us on the counterattack,” Steve said, “it was very crowded, but we hung in and managed to sort things out.”
ACE have three players in the Premier League’s top four scorers: Ryan Shaughnessy 28, Ally Russell 26, Daniel Fogerty (The Lakes) 23, Josh Cartman 21. Ryan Thomas 16 is tied for first place in the Reserves Golden Boot. Jamie Sanckson tied in second on 14.
After tomorrow’s games, ACE have the Canale Cup Final at Perry Park on October 2 against Moggill, from Capital League 1 and then the Premier League finals from October 9.
