Dominant City forced to fight for NPL points

GOLD Coast City went from the penthouse almost down to the basement as they fell across the line in the NPL on Saturday night.

Playing Redlands United at their Duncan McKenna Field home base, City started with a bang and goals from Sam Smith, Jarrod Kyle and Roman Hofmann had them up 3-0 only 26 minutes into the clash.

It was still the same score until the stroke of half-time when Redlands scored from a free kick – and that lifted the visitors significantly and scrapped it out right to the end when they scored two minutes from time to put jitters into the City camp.

But City should have been well clear at the break, said coach Grae Piddick, with Redlands’ keeper Ciaran Williams the stumbling block.

“In the first half we were superb and should have had six or seven (goals) by half-time,” Piddick said.

“But their keeper made three or four really good saves and that seemed to give Redlands a boost and they returned a rejuvenated team.

“Still I thought we controlled the game, until at the death when it was a bit nervy.”

City will monitor the fitness of keeper Matt Stein (ankle) and youngster Oskar Dillon, who copped a heavy knock.

Once again attacking midfielder Nik Mirkovic was outstanding and other midfielders Justyn McKay and Hofmann offered splendid support.

City now host Northern Fury at McKenna Field next weekend before the start of a tough campaign against topplaced sides.

NPL LADDER ROUND 17

W D

13 2

12 3

12 2

9 1

8 4

7 5

6 5

6 1

4 1

4 1

3 3

0 2 FNQ Heat Moreton Bay Western Pride Northern Fury SWQ Thunder Roar Youth Redlands Sunshine Coast L 2 2 3 7 5 5 5 8 11 11 10 15 F 50 56 54 39 33 33 43 27 20 22 22 13 A 18 17 18 27 26 24 24 33 38 49 46 92 Pts 28 26 23 19 13 13 12 2