Knights need a clinical finish

GOLD Coast Knights NPL coach Grae Piddick admits some slight cracks appeared in his side after conceding a late goal in their 2-1 win over the SWQ Thunder on Saturday night.

After controlling much of the contest, the second-last Thunder scored late against the run of play to make a game of the previously one-sided contest.

The Knights managed to weather the late storm but Piddick (pictured) said his side needed to learn to ice games earlier in the piece.

“It was a strange game,” he said. “We were in complete command of the game right up until they got a goal late, so it was a bit nervous.

“Anything can happen when there’s one goal in it but we managed to see it out.

“We have to learn how to put teams to bed.”

Despite creating a mountain of opportunities in front of goal, the Knights struggled to build on their two-goal buffer, instead almost letting the Thunder get back into the game with their late strike.

“We created a lot of opportunities but we needed to be more ruthless in front of goal,” he said.

“If we were efficient, it could have been a bigger score line.”

Piddick said the absence of leading scorer Sam Smith due to injury didn’t affect the final result.

“We had a few missing from our regular starting 11 but we have others who are capable of stepping up and doing the job,” he said.

With the Knights facing a packed schedule of catch-up games and regular season matches in the remaining few weeks of the NPL season, Piddick said it was crucial to retain a fit and healthy squad as finals fast approach.

The Knights currently sit fourth on the ladder but could finish higher should results go their way.

“We just need to work on the little things that matter as we come towards the end of the season,” he said.

“We’ve got a few catch-up games over the next five to six weeks but our goal is to try and win every one of them because if the teams above us slip up, we can pounce.

“We’ve already shown that we can mix it with the top sides.”