CITY THINK FORWARD WITH MATURING DEFENDER
And it is also a bonus for coach Grae Piddick to have former Brisbane Roar Youth player Schmidt developing into a quality defender.
“Matt played left fullback and was outstanding and he scored the fourth goal for us,” Piddick said of Schmidt’s effort to turn on a solo run through the middle before a sweet strike.
“Yes, he has gone under the radar a bit but he has definitely been a great pickup for us, particularly after Jordan Lampard moved to Melbourne.”
In the absence of English import Sam Smith, Lyle was GC City Strikers Olympic Moreton Bay Brisbane City FNQ Heat Nthn Fury Roar Youth Western Pride Redlands Utd SWQ Thunder Sunshine Coast W D 9 2 8 2 7 2 6 4 7 1 6 2 4 1 4 1 2 5 2 3 2 1 0 2 L F 1 30 2 44 3 34 2 27 4 28 4 21 5 20 6 20 4 23 7 18 9 11 10 12 A Pts 11 29 13 26 15 23 16 22 18 22 20 20 21 13 31 13 20 11 31 9 30 7 62 2 handed the role of key striker and he did the job well with two strikes and an assist for another.
City led 2-0 at halftime against the only side to have beaten them this season – that coming in the first round in Cairns.
When the Heat scored shortly after the break the chance of handing over momentum was there but it pleased Piddick the way his players handled things.
“It was good to kick on in the second half after we conceded that goal,” he said.
“The reaction once we conceded was very positive.”
City now prepare for a tough away test away to Brisbane City at Spencer Park on Saturday.