Strikers away just another test for Piddick’s NPL youth to pass

AS the football gods continue to conspire against Gold Coast United, coach Grae Piddick remains eyes front – he has to.

A breakthrough NPL Queensland win over Sunshine Coast Wanderers on April 11, following a tumultuous month of training in gyms and parks for subsequently washed-out matches, promised a turning point for Piddick’s

men. But United paid a heavy price for the 5-1 win – skipper Justyn Mckay, firstchoice ’keeper Ryan Meskell, speedy fullback Tyler Wagstaffe and matchwinner Sam King all succumbed to injuries. Sam Smith was suspended. The timing was poor, with perennial finalists Lions visiting just six days later and a 4-0 loss at home followed.

Then came something to celebrate – a maiden FFA Cup victory, over Brisbane Premier League giants Albany Creek Excelsior, with stand-in ’keeper Tim Lahiff’s penalty shootout heroics, from the spot and between the posts, returning smiles to faces.

Celebrations were again short-lived, when Lahiff was ruled out of the follow-up Cup clash with NPL Queensland rivals Olympic days later and, already short-staffed on starters, United fell 3-1.

Like that, the Cup journey was over.

Now a Sunday date with fellow battlers Brisbane Strikers looms, in what shapes as a must-win if United is to stay in touch with the competition leaders.

“They (Strikers) haven’t had the greatest start … but we’ve only won one game ourselves,” Piddick said.

“We’re well aware they’ll be hungry and we need to make sure we get over our fatigue and come out all guns blazing on Sunday.”

Long a premiership threat, the Strikers’ approach has turned to youth this season.

By necessity more than design Piddick has had to do something similar this season, blooding young talent at a steady pace as the injuries mounted.

It makes for an intriguing match-up between two teams that have so far underperformed to expectations in the 2021 season.

“We rolled into three matches in a week with limited numbers and it showed,” Piddick said.

“(But) the boys that stepped up played their hearts out.

“It’s a sign of a good team that they knuckled down and did what they had to do.

“I think we’ll see the benefits in the long term.”