Broadbeach United co-coach Damien Barker looking at positives from surprise loss to Coomera

THEY are renowned finals specialists and entered the Gold Coast Premier League playoffs as arguably the form team, but Broadbeach United co-coach Damien Barker says the Dolphins can take heart from Sunday’s surprise exit.

THEY are renowned finals specialists and entered the Gold Coast Premier League playoffs as arguably the form team of the competition.

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But Broadbeach United co-coach Damien Barker says the Dolphins can take heart from their shock exit on Sunday after fighting back from the brink of oblivion earlier in the season.

Barker’s men will not feature in the grand final for just the second time in the past 11 years following a 2-1 extra-time loss to Coomera in which they surrendered a 1-0 halftime lead.

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Josh Riis’ opening goal was cancelled out by a Ferdinand Annor penalty after the break, before a Noriki Nahata strike in extra time booked the Colts first preliminary final appearance – an away battle against champions Burleigh at 7pm on Saturday.

Broadbeach United goalscorer Josh Riis (right). Picture: East End Digital

Broadbeach’s season looked in deep trouble when back-to-back 5-1 losses left them in sixth spot after Round 10, but they won 10 of their next 11 to finish the season in third place.

“At the start of the season, there was a stage where we were thinking we weren’t even going to make the top four. We were third from bottom,” Barker said.

“(But) really going into this game (against Coomera), we have been the form team. I think we’d won 10 out of the last 11 and got done by Burleigh.

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“We were very confident (but) we weren’t taking Coomera for granted. I thought we started off the game really well … but the momentum of the game just changed (in the second half) and we started maybe taking our foot off the gas a little bit and started taking quick free kicks when we wouldn’t normally do that.

“No excuses, at the end of the day Coomera deserved the win. Stevie’s (Coomera coach Steve Macdonald) a top bloke and I’m really pleased for him to get something out of the season. They’re going to give Burleigh a good game next week.”

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Burleigh will get a second shot at qualifying for the grand final after falling 2-1 to Surfers Paradise on Saturday.