PREMIER PROMOTION
KINGSCLIFF EYES TOP FLIGHT:
NERANG Eagles coach Lee Vernon is hopeful his side can produce a 90-minute performance in Round 2 of the Gold Coast Premier League, after struggling to regain form in a handful of practice matches.
The Eagles went toe-totoe with Gold Coast United last Thursday night, suffering a 6-1 loss, but unearthed a few likely starters.
While unlucky not to put more chances away on the night, Nerang recruit Harvey Rivers proved a welcome addition to the squad.
The experienced and talented goalkeeper proved that he will be a valuable addition to the Eagles in 2020, showing his class and executing some incredible saves.
Nerang youngster Caleb Murphy was also impressive, threatening every time he got near the United box and leading several attacking runs.
Eagles coach Lee Vernon said his side had a long way to go to reach peak form after only resuming full training in recent weeks.
“I’m not entirely happy with the performances we have put together in the last few weeks, but again it is unprecedented times,” he told Football Gold Coast.
“We have had to adjust to so many different factors and we hope that after the tough pre-season, we can put it all together and play some good football moving forward.
“It was hard for us in the beginning stages of the lockdown to get players motivated to work individually, as we didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Our fitness levels aren’t the best, but at the end of the day we are happy to get back out on the pitch.”
Despite coaching Broadbeach to four championships and six grand finals before his shock move to Nerang, Vernon hasn’t experienced a premier league season like 2020.
“We have to focus on one week at a time,” he said.
“Although that is the message from most coaches to their teams, we know that with the horror draw we have coming up and the level we are at, we just have to keep focused and continue to play the football we know we can.”
Nerang restarts its season with a Round 2 catch-up clash against Surfers Paradise.
It suffered a 4-0 loss to Coomera in their Round 1 match back in March.