United ready for NPL leaders

GOLD Coast United have turned their attention to two NPL heavyweights after continuing their surge towards the top four on Saturday night.

The Robina side proved too strong in their Round 8 clash with newcomers Mackay and Whitsundays at Slacks Creek, running out 4-1 victors to stretch their unbeaten run to three games.

One of four teams on 10 points, they are now just one win adrift of the top four ahead of meetings with secondplaced Western Pride (away on April 7) and third-placed Lions FC (away on April 14).

“We’ve got two big games coming up,” coach Sean Lane said.

“The expectation is that we’ll be going hard at training and we’ll train to win both of those matches.

“I’m delighted (with Saturday’s win), an excellent performance. Probably our best performance of the year.

“All the things we’ve been working on at training, (the players) brought to match day. Show time and we turned up.”

The Magpies Crusaders’ horror injury run continued when one player pulled out in the pre-match warm up on Saturday, adding to the two who withdrew midweek.

United made the most of the visitors’ misfortune, capitalising on their early weight of possession to take the lead when Matt Green scored his first goal for the club in the 23rd minute.

It was 2-0 four minutes later as Conor Smith tapped in a Nick Panetta pass after excellent build-up play, with the vis- NPL MEN ROUND 8

itors fighting off a United onslaught to keep the deficit at two goals at the break.

With Lochie Reus and Green instrumental in much of United’s attack, the former set up United’s third goal when his long-range effort deflected off Jack Gates into the Mackay and Whitsundays goal.

In the aftermath, the Magpies Crusaders’ Spanish defender, Pablo Perez, was sent off by referee Paul Eldridge after disputing the goal for a handball.

It was the elusive Reus who tempted a clumsy challenge from the tiring Mackay and Whitsundays defence late on, earning a stoppage-time penalty converted by Smith.

The lone dampener for Lane would have been conceding a goal, from Kyle Markham, in the third minute of injury time.

However, with momentum building for his troops, he will now look ahead with optimism.

Green was named man of the match for United, with Reus and Smith were also among the Coast side’s best.