Clash of heavyweights

Bulldogs take down Apollo in top-of-table game

DESPITE having one hand on winning the league following their 3-2 win over Surfers Paradise, Burleigh coach Colin Phelan still isn’t completely convinced.

The Bulldogs on Saturday night took another giant step towards the Premier League title with a 2-1 victory in a gritty top-of-the-table encounter.

It took two own-goals on Apollo’s behalf for Burleigh to emerge victorious in the firstagainst-second match after Surfers scored first following the break to go 2-1 up.

The win sees Burleigh move to 42 points – seven clear of Surfers on the Premier League standings – and within reach of the title.

“Put it this way, it’s hard to lose,” Phelan said.

“We’re in a better position now than we were two hours ago.”

Despite going into the half one goal apiece, Phelan revealed he unleashed on his side during the long break, inspiring the away side to rally in the second half and create countless opportunities to score.

“I had a go at them for being naive and not listening,” he said. “I said ‘you can’t let your standards drop, you’ve got to push on from here’.”

Phelan admitted the Bulldogs had luck on their side after Surfers conceded two goals but he was also ecstatic with his team’s performance to fight back.

“We got ourselves back in the game,” he said. “At the end of the day, on the chances we created, we deserved to win the game tonight.

“We had a little bit of fortune in front of goal.

“It was never going to be pretty but to be fair I thought we played quite well and defended well.”

While Phelan called for better from his troops at half time, Surfers Paradise coach Alex Morrison said the mood was jubilant in their rooms at the long break.

“At half time, we felt really good and confident being at home,” he said.

“We came out and got the second goal and were up 2-1 and I thought we were cruising and in a really good position.

“Credit to Burleigh, they got the three points.”

In Saturday’s other Premier League action, Coomera defeated Tweed 7-2 and Broadbeach beat Nerang 3-1.