Fringe City member Grimley hopes late form earns run

GOLD Coast City’s heartbreak kid Ethan Grimley has put himself in the mix for an FFA Cup recall thanks to Monday night’s 1-1 draw against China Under-22s.

The entertaining Sports Super Centre friendly between the NPL club and tourists delivered a boost to the selection chances of fringe City players.

Grimley was among them, two years after being an unused substitute in the club’s previous FFA Cup quarterfinal appearance, also against South Melbourne.

The midfielder’s 2017 has been hindered by osteitis pubis, though Grimley is hopeful his cameo can jet him back in to first team calculations.

“I got just under a full game. It was good to get a run in my legs before the FFA Cup game,” he said of the 70-minute China Under-22 contest.

“In the back end of the season I got a few games in, which was good and probably better than what I thought I would get out of the season.

“Hopefully I can be in the mix for the cup game. Wherever I can best fit on the day will be fine with me, whether that’s on the bench or on the starting sheet.

“There really is no better feeling than those big games.”

City conceded the opening goal after 15 minutes against the run of play when Shi Hao Wei tucked home a cross.

However, striker Jarrod Kyle quickly levelled terms as he continues his return to full fitness (dislocated shoulder).

Both sides missed chances to secure a win in the second half of a contest Grimley described as the perfect tune-up for the FFA Cup stoush.

“These boys will be similar to South Melbourne. They are really sharp with good wingers and midfielders, so we have to be ready for that,” he said.

“The match did feel a bit short and a lot of the boys said they would’ve liked to have gone the full 90 minutes. But it was really just a good hitout.”