SOCCER
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Macquarie United will need an eight-goal turnaround in seven days if they are to beat Dubbo FC in their Dubbo soccer first grade semi-final tomorrow, and progress to the 2014 grand final.
The Bulls beat United 9-2 last Sunday, however both sides had their spots on the ladder secured by that stage of the regular season and had little to play for.
With a place in the decider up for grabs tomorrow, the clash between the competition's top two teams is destined to be a tighter contest than any of the three matches they have played so far this season.
Back in round five the Bulls managed a 5-1 victory but United evened the ledger in round 10 when they inflicted the only loss Dubbo FC has suffered in 2014, a 6-2 drubbing.
It is rare for the leading teams in a competition to have such one-sided contests however all three matches have been good spectacles for the crowds with a total of 25 goals scored.
While the winner will earn a week off and a spot in the September 7 grand final, the loser will face an elimination final next week against either Orana Spurs or South Dubbo Wanderers.
Those two sides will do battle in tomorrow's knockout fixture and it would take a brave person to predict anything other than a victory for Spurs.
In a strange twist of fate, these sides also met in the final round of the regular season, with Spurs racking up 11 goals on their way to an 11-1 victory.
The two other meetings between the sides in 2014 had also resulted in easy wins for Spurs, with their round five match finishing 10-2 while in round 10 they dominated in a 7-1 victory.
Tomorrow will also see semi-finals played in the lower grades, with Dubbo FC and Orana Spurs to lock horns in the second grade qualifying final, and South Dubbo Wanderers to face EDU in the elimination match.
In third grade, RSL 78s and Westside Panthers face elimination when they do battle, with the winner to progress to a clash next Sunday against the loser of the grand final qualifier between Dubbo FC and South Dubbo Wanderers.
Womens finals will also take place tomorrow, with Dubbo FC Bullettes to face RSL 78s, and Newtown to do battle with Wellington in Division 1, while in Division 2 Dubbo City Rangers play Narromine and the North-West Falcons face Orana Spurs.