The Coasts have played out a boring nil all draw in front of 'four people' at drizzling Skilled Park.
Sorry to start with the negatives but, facing the facts, that’s what happened. Neither side could formulate anything close to a goal, but luckily for United there were only 2,037 home fans to disappoint, a record low, even for the Gold Coast.
Both sides not only finished with no goals, but in actual fact no shots on target in the 90 minutes for both sides.
And it wasn’t due to astounding defending, but more lacklustre attack. Both backlines had solid games, neither keeper needed to impress. The ball spent most of the time at the feet of midfielders in potential attacking opportunities, but nine times out of ten they would try one to many step-overs, fall over, and the ball would trickle to the opposition.
This may be slightly exaggerated. But only slightly.
So the Gold Coast lined up with more of a 4-5-1 with Culina playing wherever he liked, which is exactly what he likes, and Djite alone up front. Central coast went for a 4-4-2 with Perez in the hole and McBreen and Simon up front. It looked promising, two big men and a darty little import sounds quite challenging for the Gold Coast defence.
The game started pretty open, with the ball being held by the people you expect, Culina, Caravella, Perez, Hutchinson. Perez had a brilliant opportunity in the 25th minute, nicking the ball and having the Gold Coast defence on the back foot, he ran at them and had them beat for a left foot shot. Unfortunately, he didn’t fancy his left, took another touch, which was enough for Thwaite to swoop in and defuse the situation.
Almost straight after a Pantelidis long cross found its way to the back post for Culina to settle the ball on the box and lay it off for Anderson to shoot, with the ball just slipped across the face of goal.
After the break in the 55th minute Robson slid a pass to Culina running from deep, who took it wide of the goal for a textbook cut back goal. Djite should have scored with any good contact, but ended up sliding and skirting off his shin for a goal kick. Smeltz puts those away. Just saying.
The Central Coast didn’t really look like troubling United in the second half. Only a stoppage time free kick from Nick Mrdja, who came on after the foul was committed, looked like getting anywhere near the goal.
Gold Coast had another shot at clinching at when substitute John Curtis put in a tantalising cross with fellow replacement Andrew Barisic almost getting the volley right, but slipping in the drizzle and scooping the shot over the bar.
The Number 10’s were the best players on the park, with Perez and Culina both looking the most likely to spark their teams. But it wasn’t really either of their days, with Perez being booked and subbed late, and Culina resorting to his usual tantrums late in the game when not receiving the ball he wanted.
The Gold Coast cap has surely been a terrible experiment. This time they did open up ‘The Beach’ for the supporters, but in a stadium that should be brilliant for football, no-one is showing up. There was no atmosphere, just the muttering and drunk shouting that would constitute the rumble of fans, if only there were ten times more people. The players were literally more audible than the spectators.
So a disappointing night for the Gold Coast, and with a midweek fixture they’ll be looking to put that to bed quickly. The Mariners remain second, but should be a little apprehensive that Perez does not get him self in more disciplinary trouble, not just being booked for dissent, but because he is a little prone to simulation, and that is a very hard tag to shake.