OH WHAT A KNIGHTS
FOR the Gold Coast Knights, this one meant more than most.
In the latest chapter of the Gold Coast Premier League’s fiercest rivalry, the reigning premiers last night exacted revenge on a Broadbeach United side that denied them the title double last season.
Overwhelming favourites for this year’s crown, the Knights underlined their credentials with surgical precision for a 3-0 win on Sunday, building on a 2-0 lead that arrived inside 15 minutes through Andrew Barisic and Justyn McKay.
On the back of victories against Surfers Paradise Apollo and Gold Coast United in the league and FFA Cup respectively over the previous nine days, coach Grae Piddick admitted this win – sealed with a Daniel Dragicevic goal just after halftime buried some lingering demons from 2017.
“I think for the club, there’s a little bit of revenge. We know Broadbeach are a good team so to come here and win the game 3-0 and,
particularly in the first half to be quite dominant, I was pleased with that,” he said.
“We started well and we’ve had a busy week - it was an emotional game on Tuesday night - so to back it up here against one of the top clubs in Broadbeach, at their home ground, I’m really happy.
“We know they’re a good side and we know they’ll continue to kick on strong so we need to make we keep doing our jobs. It gives us plenty of confidence.”
United coach Lee Vernon said the Knights’ performance proved “they are definitely the team to beat”.
“With the squad they’ve assembled, everyone expects them to win the league and win it comfortably. On our day I’ll back our lads – they’re a good team — but we’ve just got to regroup and focus on our own game,” Vernon said.
“We haven’t been starting games that well this season and when you go two goals down against these guys they can shut up shop and it’s a long day at the office.”
In other Round 2 results, a Yuji Hirayama hat-trick led Surfers Paradise Apollo to a 5-1 win over Tweed, Burleigh Heads beat Coomera 3-0, Palm Beach overcame Mudgeeraba by the same scoreline, and Nerang prevailed 4-1 against Murwillumbah.