To Cairns FC ... with gloves
After a holiday hitout, Knight considers future with Far North team
Visa trialist Danny Knight will today discuss the possibility of donning the gloves this season with Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone as the NPL squad selection deadline looms. The 25-year-old from New Zealand participated in the club’s opening preseason game on Saturday, a 2-1 loss to Townsville-based NQ United at Southside Comets home field at Walker Rd. On holiday in the Far North, the shotstopper is still to commit to the club.
VISA trialist Danny Knight will today discuss the possibility of donning the gloves this season with Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone as the NPL squad selection deadline looms.
The 25-year-old from New Zealand participated in the club’s opening preseason game on Saturday, a 2-1 loss to Townsville-based NQ United at Southside Comets’ home field at Walker Rd.
Knight, who has been playing for Canterbury United in the NZ Football Championship, battled the heat in his first-half stint and told the Cairns Post he was eager to discuss his future.
The shotstopper, who spent his teens whetting his football appetite in Yorkshire in the UK, said he had come to the Far North for a holiday and was still considering whether he would commit to the club.
“You can’t fault the place – it’s an absolute picture,” he said.
“It was good to get a hitout with the boys, there was some good stuff there.
“Me and Danny will sit down and we’ll see what happens.”
Knight was called into action sparingly in his stint thanks to some strong firsthalf defence.
The teams went into the sheds at 0-0 but mass changes at half-time took a toll on Cairns as NQ United stepped up their game.
Masimango Omari caused problems with his pace and curled one into the top corner off his left foot for the first goal.
Shaun Owens was Cairns’ unlikely goalscorer 15 minutes later with a speculative shot from outside the box.
After Josh De Nittis struck the crossbar five minutes from time, Omari scored the winner for NQ when he intercepted a shocking backpass and ran around the keeper to score.
Graystone said he “learnt a bit” after implementing a high press early and experimenting with positions.
“I think what we set out to get out of that game was a bit of match fitness and there’s a few boys in there that are a bit tired,” the Cairns FC coach said.
“We wanted to make sure we started to work on our teamwork and there were a couple of times during the game there we let that go a bit.”
Crios O’Hare and Charlie Beverley, who have yet to be officially announced as members of the roster, were two of the best on ground according to Graystone, while fellow former FNQ Heat player Chris Sullivan also took part.
Cairns FC must submit their squad of 20 to Football Queensland by Friday.
IT WAS GOOD TO GET A HITOUT WITH THE BOYS, THERE WAS SOME GOOD STUFF THERE DANNY KNIGHT, GOALKEEPER