KNIGHTS HOLD PREMIERSHIP LEAD

Broadbeach Utd 2 (A. Bray, S. Broadfoot)

Coomera 1 (J. Dempsey)

HT: 1-0

Gold Coast Knights 2 (D. Pilic 2)

Nerang 0

HT: 1-0

Surfers Paradise 0

Musgrave 3 (P. Cronin 2, S. Nelligen)

HT: 0-2

Mudgeeraba 2 (S. Billing, J. Lefanu)

Magic Utd 1 (M. Olley)

HT: 2-1

Palm Beach 2 (D. Smith, N. Hulme)

Burleigh Heads 0

HT: 1-0

GOLD Coast Knights recorded a fifth win in six games to maintain their grip on pole position of the Buffalo Sports Premier League.

A comfortable 2-0 home win over mid-table Nerang keeps the Knights a point clear of second-placed Musgrave, who defeated Surfers Paradise by three goals to nil. Wins for both the top two sides piles even more pressure on rivals Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach who face each other this afternoon (Sunday).

The Knights had midfield schemer David Pilic to thank for their goals with the former NSL player again finding the net with pin-point free-kick in the fifteenth minute. Pilic has been a dead-ball weapon all season for John Stewart’s men and he almost hit the target again soon afterwards with another laser-guided effort.

But his tally was doubled from open play with ten minutes remaining with after fine work from Ryan Perry set him up and he finished easily.

The defeat for Nerang keeps them planted firmly in the middle of the table with their finals hopes becoming more distant by the week.

Musgrave kept the pressure on the Knights with another impressive performance by key-man Pat Cronin. A brace for the marksman, the first a penalty kick and the second a screamer, propelled Oscar Langone’s title hopefuls towards a comfortable victory with Steve Nelligen chiming in with the other goal.

Musgrave face the Knights this Wednesday evening in a rearranged fixture that is primed to be a title showdown between the league’s two highest scoring and most consistent sides.

The result ended Surfer’s three-match unbeaten run who must now keep a watchful eye on the form of Mudgeeraba if they are to avoid being dragged back into the relegation mire they have fought so hard to get out of.

Palm Beach’s 2-0 win against hot and cold Burleigh Heads has pushed Adem Poric’s side into fourth place and the Sharks are showing impressive form with four wins in their last five outings. Dean Smith and Nick Hulme scored the decisive goals, condemning Burleigh to their fifth defeat of the campaign.

Burleigh’s new focus is likely to be on ensuring they make the finals with their recent inconsistent results threatening to shatter their title dreams.

Mudgeeraba surprised top-four aspirants Magic United with a 2-1 win to leapfrog Coomera on the ladder and drag themselves off the bottom. Goals within the first twenty minutes from Shane Billing and Joe Lefanu set them on their way and despite a reply from Magic’s Matt Olley they held on to arrest a horror run of recent form.  

Broadbeach United made recorded back-to-back wins for only the second time this season with a 2-1 home win over struggling Coomera on Friday night.

James Dempsey’s late strike for Coomera was no more than a consolation after a first half goal from Adam Bray and a bizarre late second from midfielder Steve Broadfoot, brother of United talisman Chris Broadfoot, gave the home side a valuable three points.

Broadfoot’s harmless looking punt forward was misjudged on the edge of the penalty area by Coomera ‘keeper Seamus Murfett, who could only watch in agony as the ball bounced in front of him and sailed into the unguarded net.

Coomera’s third defeat in their last four outings leaves them at the foot of the table and firmly entrenched in the relegation dogfight. With only ten goals to their name in twelve games it’s going to be a tough run home for Steve Beever’s side.

United’s two-game winning run comes off the back of four straight defeats but keeps them in contention for fourth place on the ladder and a coveted spot in the finals.