Knights riding high but lack killer blow
GOLD Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick has challenged his side to improve their ruthlessness in front of goal as they edge closer to Gold Coast Premier League redemption.
Having sealed back-toback championships three weeks ago, the Knights put the icing on the cake on Saturday, registering a comefrom-behind 3-2 win over Burleigh to complete their unbeaten regular-season run.
The Bulldogs had taken a 2-1 lead courtesy of goals from Matt Hilton and Jarran Pfefferkorn, before the Knights found their stride to snatch their 16th win of the season on the back of a Nick Panetta goal and two wonder-strikes from Max Brown.
A major semi final against second-placed Broadbeach, their conquerors in last season’s grand final and 2-1 victors over Surfers Paradise on Saturday, now awaits the Knights, but Piddick called on his troops to show their killer instinct after wasting a glut of chances against Burleigh.
“I thought we played really
well, to be honest … one of our best performances all year, some of the football we played at times was great,” Piddick said.
“Probably the only thing that let us down was finishing, particularly in the first half. We probably could have come in at halftime three or four goals up, maybe more.
“I think if we play as well as we did tonight (in the finals) we will still create chances (but) it’s always one of those ones you want to be totally efficient in front of goal. We created a number of chances, yes we scored three goals tonight, but it probably could have been three or four after 20, 25 minutes.
“We scored a couple of wonderful goals in the second half so can’t complain about that. It was good against a tough side that’ll put us in good stead going into the finals.”
Burleigh coach Colin Phelan, whose side will be thrust into a do-or-die semi final against Surfers after finishing third, said his players could hold their heads high.
“I thought we done well, we made a good account of ourselves,” he said.
Elsewhere Saturday, Nerang thumped Mudgeeraba 5-1, Murwillumbah downed Tweed 3-1 and Coomera beat Palm Beach 5-2.