Costello class puts Apollo back on top
terry.wilson@news.com.au Kieta Ikeda, Benigno had no doubts that Costello deserved the honour.
“John filled the shoes of Acim Tomic (suspended) at centre back and he cleaned up everything,” Benigno said of the Palm Beach Currumbin High sports teacher.
“He orchestrated the centre of the park – it was a class effort from him.”
Costello had a distinguished career with Brisbane Strikers where he was captain for a number of years before scaling down his playing time.
“He’s a cracking player but Surfers Broadbeach GC Knights Palm Beach Burleigh Murwill’bah Magic Utd Coomera P W 11 9 11 8 10 7 9 5 10 4 9 3 10 1 10 1 D 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 L 2 3 3 3 4 5 9 9 F A Pts 32 13 27 28 15 24 25 10 21 25 16 16 21 22 14 10 18 10 12 25 3 8 34 3 he can’t commit to the game like he used to,” Benigno said.
Broadbeach United actually led 1-0 after a scoreless first half, courtesy of an own goal from Yamada.
But, according to Benigno, that sparked Apollo into action and they assumed command swiftly through goals from Simone Mangiante (two), Ikeda and Burcin Yorulmaz.
“It was status quo and not pretty for the first 45 minutes then it took them to score for us to react,” Benigno said of the victory that gave them back ladder leadership.
While two games – Murwillumbah v Burleigh Heads and Magic United v Palm Beach – were called off because Apollo’s Mikaya of waterlogged fields, co-operation between clubs resulted in the CoomeraGold Coast Knights fixture being switched from Croatian Sports Centre to Colts’ headquarters at Viney Park.
And the Knights took advantage with a 2-0 win that put them to within three points of Broadbeach and with a game in hand.
Andrew Barisic and Daniel Grizic put the ball in the back of the net for the Knights, who have a match in the FGC Cup against Palm Beach coming up on Thursday night at Mallawa Drive.