United bruised but better for the loss
GOLD Coast United are banking on their emerging NPL talent to be better for the season-opening loss to Moreton Bay when they mark their Coplicks arrival in Round 2 tonight.
Coming off a 3-2 defeat to the Jets that featured NPL debuts for a number of players and coach Kristian Rees, the Surfsiders are facing another massive test against 2018 double winners Lions.
The 5pm fixture will be the side’s first at the new home at Tallebudgera’s Coplick Family Sports Park, with the club’s under-13, 14, 15 and 16 outfits christening the field with four wins last weekend.
Rees conceded his young squad was outplayed in Round 1 but expected them to take some crucial lessons from the early anguish.
“We just got outfought by a more experienced, more physical team,” he said.
“We were playing on a really small pitch against an experienced team who had their game plan to come out and battle and they did that quite well.
“We probably just didn’t defend well enough. Defensively, I never wanted to concede goals as a defender and conceding three goals (was disappointing).
“But I don’t think there’s any doubt (our players) will be better. I spoke to a few of the boys that hadn’t (played NPL) … and played on the weekend, and you could sort of tell they were a bit upset because physically they copped a bit of a hiding from the Moreton Bay boys.
“I think they learnt straight away from that and the intense pressure that Moreton Bay applied to us, so if they’ve learnt just a little bit from that game they’re going to be better this weekend.”
Tactics, Rees said, had also been addressed.
“We want to try and keep the ball if we can. I don’t really want to force boys to get forward and create opportunities if it’s not there.
“Getting on the big pitch at Coplicks, is going to help the boys. With a good surface hopefully we can play a bit of football and open lines up.”
Rees has made four changes to the starting side, with goalkeeper Duro Dragicevic coming in for Griffin Bambach, and Tyler Wagstaffe, Dean Wernerson and Curtis Stollery elevated from the bench at the expense of Ryan Cavanah, Brandon Le May and Jarran Pfefferkorn.
Midfielder Justyn McKay is back training but has again been left out of the squad as he recovers from injury.
Lions lost 2-1 to Peninsula Power last weekend.
PHYSICALLY THEY COPPED A BIT OF A HIDING FROM THE MORETON BAY BOYS UNITED COACH KRISTIAN REES