Caboolture Thrashed to Open Kappa Campaign

James Lane

Caboolture FC’s hopes of repeating last year’s famous upset against Moreton City Excelsior ended emphatically on Friday night, as the Snakes fell 5-1 on the road in the Kappa Pro Series opener.

Moreton City, true to pre-match expectations, controlled the game from start to finish. The scoreboard reflected their dominance early, with the first goal arriving in the 19th minute. By halftime, the NPL side had already built a commanding 3-0 lead. The pressure did not ease after the break: Moreton added a fourth goal just four minutes into the second half, before rounding out the scoring in the 85th minute.

Caboolture managed a late consolation through Jack Waldock in the 89th minute, but the result was never in doubt. The statistics underlined the gulf in control between the sides: Moreton City racked up 12 corners to Caboolture’s single, and dictated the tempo and territory for much of the contest.

The defeat is a harsh reminder of the challenge the Snakes face in a group featuring two NPL powerhouses. While Caboolture may have hoped to replicate last year’s 1-0 triumph over Moreton, this time the home side’s quality proved decisive.

With two more group games to play, Caboolture now faces an uphill battle if they are to advance, but lessons from this defeat will be vital as they regroup for the remainder of the Kappa Pro Series.