Having reached the midpoint of the season and couched uncomfortably near the bottom of the standings, Sunday�s match against the first place Dubliner provided the Predators an opportunity to improve their record and to assert their legitimacy as league contenders against the best team in the division, at least statistically.

But given the recent dominance of the Dubliner over the Predators, Sunday�s contest could potentially continue the Predators� downward spiral in the standings and strengthen and make more salient the inner dynamic�markedly different from a year ago�very much contributory to their worst start since joining SUASL.

A convincing 3-0 rout of the Predators by the Dubliner seemingly confirms the latter�each conceded goal punctuating a degree of separation between the two teams in league standing, organization, and level of contention.

Dubliner closed out the Predators at the outset by denying passing lanes and limiting play to the Predators� half with possession and penetrating short passes. Turnovers and infractions committed deep inside the Predators� third of the field created opportunities for points as the Dubliner took a 2-0 halftime lead.

The outcome of the contest was never in serious jeopardy, especially after the Dubliner scored in the 65th minute to increase the tally to 3-0.

Despite several good opportunities generated by the Predators in the waning minutes of the match, they never were in it once they went two goals down. Stymied by a strong Dubliner defense, they were reduced largely to chasing the ball and playing the ineffective long ball.

Dubliner (4-0) have won its fourth straight match�its third consecutive against the Predators that included a championship victory�and handed the Predators (1-3) their first shutout defeat since June 15, 2003 when they lost by an identical score to the Dubliner (formerly known as the British Open FC).

By contrast, the Predators are understandably in a state of frustration, but not quite desperation, having lost three of their first four matches. In the three loses, they have allowed thirteen goals, eight of which came in the second half. In that same period, they have produced only two goals, all of which came in the closing minutes and when the outcome of match was determined.

These statistics are like the canary in the coal miner�s tunnel whose death warns of too little oxygen. Beyond such sobering numbers, the plight of the Predators can be seen at more subtle levels, in their weekly preparation that often leaves them ill-equipped strategically for the level of competition they face each weekend.

Perhaps the most telling data of all�a direct barometer of their competitive fitness against elite teams over the last three seasons�is from a three-season compilation comparing Goal For (GF)/Goal Against (GA) averages from spring 2003 to this fall 2003.

Season	GF	GA
Spring 2003	1.4	1.4
Summer 2003	0.8	2.0
Fall 2003	0.6	4.3

As shown in the table above, with each successive season, the Predators have (are) allowing more goals then they are scoring; so far this season the GF/GA ratio is almost 1:4, a far cry from the balanced ratio of spring 2003. This and other indicators simply are creping steadily in the wrong direction.

Of their four remaining matches, three are against opponents playing at or above .500. So despite the fact the top eight teams make the playoff�and given their less than superlative performance this past month�there is no certainty the Predators will be one of them.

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