Plenty of positives to draw from stalemate
A DRAW against North Queensland United in Townsville has given Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone plenty of optimism his young charges will stand tall in the NPL this season.
With eight players unavailable, new Cairns FC signing Harry Corica made the most of an opportunity up front to put the visitors in the lead in the fourth minute on Saturday, the 17-year-old slicing through some flat-footed United defence.
North Queensland’s own teen young gun Masimango Benjamin sparked his side into action midway through the first half, finding space down the left side before his early cross was directed into the net by Jarrod Green.
After going into half-time 1-1, the hosts pressed hard for the winner but Cairns FC’s Kiwi goalkeeper Danny Knight denied them with a number of spectacular one-onone saves.
Graystone said while having a depleted squad was not ideal, taking a point away would be great for the confidence of the players who participated.
“I’d rather have my full squad out there, but we did very well to come back with a point and a lot of lads got 90 minutes under their belt,” he said.
“I think we just took our foot off the gas a bit and let them into the game, but that’s what you get sometimes with younger players.
Cairns FC will play Mackay Magpies-Crusaders in their final trial on Saturday and Graystone expected all senior squad members to be available to decipher his best starting XI.
“I’d expect next Saturday we’ll be closer to what you can expect to see from us in Round 1,” he said.
The match could feature two highly credentialed trialists, who will be welcomed to the Far North this week for an 11th-hour bid to make Graystone’s 2018 squad.
NQ United coach Michael Brooks said the performance gave him confidence they could have nuisance value in the National Premier League this season.
“After we settled, I think we controlled the game quite well and probably should have come away with the win,” he said.
“We shut down their chances this week a lot better and we had three clear-cut one-onones we could have put away, but their keeper had an outstanding game.”
Former FNQ Heat and Southside Comets player Ben Collins was not involved in the match after missing the NQ United 20-man squad.
I’D RATHER HAVE MY FULL SQUAD OUT THERE, BUT WE DID VERY WELL TO COME BACK WITH A POINT AND A LOT OF LADS GOT 90 MINUTES UNDER THEIR BELT
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