Coast star calls for more in NPL tilt

GOLD Coast United midfielder Lochie Reus has called on the injury-plagued NPL side to “step up”, despite snapping their four-game losing streak in Toowoomba on Saturday night.

Beaten in their previous three NPL outings and last week’s FFA Cup clash with Gold Coast Knights, United showed glimpses of their best form to overcome a plucky SWQ Thunder in their Round 12 encounter.

Entering the game 14 points adrift of the top four, the visitors needed just eight minutes to take the lead as right back Tyler Wagstaffe bagged his first goal of the season.

Chris Hatfield levelled for the Thunder just after the halfhour mark before a long range effort from Brandon Reeves gave United a 2-1 halftime lead.

Left back Lachie Weier doubled the advantage eight minutes into the second half, but the game management Coast coach Sean Lane had spoken about following the Knights defeat again looked shaky when SWQ pulled a goal back five minutes later.

It took a penalty from Uryu Nagata in the 61st minute to put the result beyond doubt, but Reus knows his teammates have more to give.

“We can’t blame injuries for our recent run. We’re in the second tier of Australian football and we really need to step up,” Reus said.

Gold Coast entered the game without a number of stars, headlined by in-form midfielder James Coutts.

United’s next game is at home to last-placed Sunshine Coast on May 12.