WEEK AHEAD PREVIEW

Week of Sat 6/1 - Fri 6/7 all times Central

Birmingham Legion

Saturday June 1 at El Paso Locomotive 8:00

The Legion are on the road again, facing a squad that has had a rough start to the season. El Paso recently fired their coach and brought in an experienced USLC coach to replace him. Wilmer Cabrera took over, having most recently been the manager at RGV, who folded before the 2024 season began. The bad news for Legion is that El Paso was good enough in Cabrera's first game to beat Charleston on the road 2-1. The good news is that Legion can watch that game, and shouldn't be looking past El Paso.

Huntsville City FC

Saturday June 1 at Carolina Core 6:30

Carolina is a new club for 2024, and one of the two independent teams in NextPro. Due to renovations to their stadium, this will be their first home game, after playing eight straight road games. This match-up features the two bottom teams in NextPro, who have just one win between them. Add in the bizarre circumstance surrounding DePuy, who was a big defensive signing last week - only to be loaned out for one short week to Memphis 901 of USLC. It's hard to know what Huntsville's chances are here, but Carolina probably gets a boost from finally being at home.

USL2

Legion 2

Thursday June 6 vs Asheville City 6:00

First game of a brutal stretch of four games in seven days, including two games on back-to-back days. At least they had six days off coming into the game against Asheville, who is the top team in the division.

Dothan United Dragons

Saturday June 1 at Tennessee SC 7:30

Rematch from the opening night game the previous Saturday. TN SC started strong in their opening game, winning 2-0 (against Legion 2). In the two games after that, they've given up eight goals.

GCPL

Battle of Mobile Bay

AFC Mobile vs Union 10 FC Wed June 5 7:00

Due the odd twists that come with lower league soccer, this is (technically) the first-ever meeting between these two clubs. AFC Mobile is headquartered on the west side of Mobile Bay in Mobile County. Union 10 FC is on the east side of the bay, in Baldwin County. Union 10 was formed when Gulf Coast Rangers merged with Mobile United FC in 2022. Mobile United had previously been affiliated with AFC Mobile in their youth programs, and eventually had a team in the GCPL, playing against both AFC and Rangers. Even after the merge, Union bills themselves as “formerly Gulf Coast Rangers”. Confused? Me too. The bottom line is that AFC was playing in the NPSL when Union was formed, and then had a year-long hiatus. So, this is the first meeting between AFC and Union, and the first leg of the 2024 Battle of Mobile Bay.

Alabama FC South

Saturday June 1 at Florida Roots 7:15

This is a match-up between the top two teams in the GCPL east. Both teams appear to be solid at either end of the pitch, and this should be the game of the week in the league.

As a side note, the ALFCS Reserves will play a game in League Two vs ASG Battle Lions Sun June 2 3:00. That will be one of only two games for their brief season.

AFC Mobile

Saturday June 1 at Sowegans 7:15

Rematch of last week's game that AFC lost 1-9. Mobile has some real issues on defense, and sits bottom of the table in the Eastern division with a -14 goal differential. I don't like AFC's chances here, four days before they face Union 10 (sadly).

Union 10

Saturday June 1 at Pensacola Bay United 5:00

First meeting this year, and this is a good example of a game that could be misleading if you look at the standings. PBU is near the bottom of the table, with a loss and a draw. However, those games were against the top two teams in the table (Roots and ALFCS). The draw was against ALFCS 1-1, and a loss to the Roots 0-2. I expect this to be a good match between two solid clubs.

UPSL

FC Birmingham

Saturday June 1 vs Dalton United 3:00

FCB has some momentum after recent results, but runs into a tough opponent at home. Both teams score goals, and this will probably come down to has the better defensive gameplan.

Other news and tidbits

Birmingham Legion WFC

Tuesday June 4 vs Chattanooga Red Wolves 7:00

This match-up features two teams that are part of a larger club with a men's pro USL team on top (Red Wolves are in USL1). The Three Sparks should be rested coming into this home match, and I would expect a strong performance.

Fountain City FC (UPSL Columbus, GA) vs Georgia Revolution Academy Sunday June 2 3:00. A rematch of teams that faced each other the previous weekend. Fountain City pummeled the Revolution last week, and I don't see this going any different.

Image Credit: Columbus United Twitter

Columbus United FC (NPSL) finally plays their home opener Saturday June 1 vs Naples 6:00. These two teams drew in the first match of the season, but I expect Columbus to come into this match and win in ftont of a good crowd.