Photo by Andrew Shaw/visiblefocus.com)
SAME teams, same venue, but that’s where the similarities end on Saturday according to ACE striker Alex Bradley.
Seven days after the Premier League title decider, Toowong are back at Wolter Park, kick-off 6.30pm, to face ACE for a place in the grand final.
“There were so many variables last weekend, the points, the goals needing to be scored, the premiership … and they came out firing,” said Alex.
“But I think this weekend will be very different.
“Last week a few words were said at half-time which put some life back into us. Now the pressure’s off (with the finals system) we might be open to trying a few different things.”
Saturday’s semi-final will be the fourth meeting between these sides this season – and the previous three have all had late, late drama.
In pre-season, ACE were 2-1 down at Wolter Park in the 86th minute when Ally Russell scored from the penalty spot. Two minutes later Ryan Shaughnessy fired home a winner.
At Toowong in May, ACE were 3-0 down and still 3-2 behind in the 96th minute when Ally Russell headed home Ryan Shaughnessy’s corner.
Last weekend, ACE trailed 2-0 at half-time before Alex Bradley pulled one back and Matt Sanchez headed an 86th-minute equaliser from Andrew Ford’s cross.
“The lads proved before I arrived and since then, that they can come from behind in games,” said Alex.
“Our coach has been getting into us a little bit over this. He wants us to score more goals in the first half and it’s something we want to do.
“It would get our tails up, maybe get their heads down a bit. It might be a key part of Saturday’s game. We’re definitely confident.”
Toowong’s threat from set pieces was been noted by ACE and Alex said: “It could be important to minimise those and not give away silly fouls.”
Taringa face Bayside in the second semi-final. The loser of tonight’s ACE v Toowong match will face the winner of Taringa/Bayside in the prelininary final. The winner here goes straight into the final.
