DERBY’S EPIC START

NPL GAME MEETS HYPE

IF this was a taste of things to come, bring it on.

The first all-Coast NPL Women’s (NPLW) derby lived up to pre-match expectations on Saturday as Gold Coast United and Mudgeeraba went blow for blow in a 4-4 draw at Robina.

Buoyed by their first win of the season against Logan six days earlier, Mudgeeraba defied their underdogs tag to take a 3-1 lead into the final 20 minutes before United struck three times in 12 minutes to hold a 4-3 advantage.

Jemima Lockley then emerged as the hero for the Wallabies with an 88th-minute equaliser, leaving both sides to look ahead to the next meeting in Round 19 on July 1.

“I’m sure if you weren’t playing or coaching, it would’ve been a great game to watch and they ended up sharing the (Faye Rodd) Cup,” United coach Michael Cook said.

“Credit to Mudgeeraba, they’re a much better team than some of their early results showed. I think they’re going to go on and have a decent season.

“Having said that, it’s the first time in the five games we’ve played that I’ve been disappointed with our performance. There were too many individual players who weren’t up to a normal level.

“There was a large chunk, when we went from 3-1 (down) to 4-3, where we looked a very good team, as we have in every match. The focus for the next few games is to play for 90 minutes.”

Mudgeeraba midfielder Shelby White said the David Thompson-coached side was “super happy” with the result.

“Everyone came off proud of themselves and proud of each other. We expected a hard game but we were going in there with nothing to lose,” the 22-year-old said.

“It was a friendly rivalry but at the same time it was very competitive. Both teams wanted to prove a point to each other. (Our goal is to) keep moving forward and progressing.

“It’s our first year playing together and first year in the NPL. We’re coming to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Now well clear of the bottom of the ladder, Mudgeeraba host Mitchelton on Sunday, while United tackles Brisbane Roar at Robina on Friday night.

Picture: MIKE BATTERHAM Mudgeeraba’s Sarah Skinner and United’s Imogen Braithwaite go for a loose ball in their NPL Women’s clash at Station Reserve, Robina.