Soccer rivals face intense double act
POWERHOUSE clubs Broadbeach United and Surfers Paradise will square off twice in five days as they battle for bragging rights on two fronts.
Last year’s league champions Broadbeach and premiers Surfers lock horns in a big fourth-round Premier League match at Lex Bell Oval Park on the Isle of Capri tonight.
Then on Tuesday night the Dolphins and the Apollo go around again in a semi-final of a Westfield FFA Cup zone eliminator at Broadbeach’s headquarters at Nikiforides Park.
At stake in that fixture is a place in the Coast final for the right to play NPL Queensland club Gold Coast City in the regional qualifier, leading into a shot at the Cup round of 32.
First things first, though, and tonight’s match pits two of the only three unbeaten Premier League clubs this season with Surfers (plus-eight goal difference) second on the ladder and Broadbeach (plus-five) sitting third but level on points with leaders Palm Beach (plus-12 goal difference).
Star Broadbeach striker Shaun Robinson, in doubt with an adductor strain, declared himself right to play – both tonight and again on Tuesday night.
“I should be OK, I had some physio and needling done on Tuesday and it’s much better,” he said.
“I’d like to play in both games and I reckon that I should be right.”
Robinson said the recent rivalry between the Apollo and the Dolphins had become quite intense.
“We absolutely have a lot of respect for Surfers and they are normally very tight, entertaining games,” he told the Bulletin.
The fourth round of Premier League competition continues tomorrow when Coomera host the Gold Coast Knights at Viney Park (4pm), Burleigh Heads take on Murwillumbah at Pizzey Park (5pm) and leaders Palm Beach play Magic United at Mallawa Drive (7pm).