Burdekin counts cost of victory

BURDEKIN FC have breathed new life into their North Queensland Premier League top four quest by shocking heavyweights Warriors 2- 0 at Ayr on Saturday night, but it may have come at a heavy cost.

A handball in the box midway through the second half allowed Taryn Smith to break the deadlock, before a bullet from just outside the 18- yard box from Kristian Mulholland secured all three points for the hosts.

A loss would have put fifthplaced Burdekin well off the pace in the race for a top four spot after fourth- placed Rebels accounted for Saints Eagles Souths 2- 1, and third- placed MA Olympic’s 1- 0 win over top- of- the- table Brothers.

Burdekin coach Ryan Mottin said the game plan to stifle the Warriors space and short passing game worked well.

“We had a game plan and the boys did a great job,” he said.

“We wanted to shuffle them to one side of the field and force them to play long balls, which ended up working.

“Unfortunately we lost our centre back and captain Lyndsay Gabiola to an ankle injury. He’s had surgery on it before but hopefully it’s not too bad.”

Men’s Premier League: Saints Eagles Souths FC 1 ( Z Quagliatta), Rebels FC 2 ( J Hurney, R Rasmussen); Burdekin FC 2 ( T Smith, K Mulholland), Townsville Warriors 0; MA Olympic FC 1 ( T Nicopoulos), Brothers FC 0.