Burleigh’s big blow ahead of heavyweight clash

Burleigh have been dealt another blow ahead of their showdown with Broadbeach United.

BURLEIGH Heads are likely to again be without influential trio Matt Noble, Wade Russell and David Mutch when they face fellow Premier League heavyweights Broadbeach United on Friday.

Title challengers last season, the Bulldogs kicked off the new campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 defeat of Palm Beach last weekend, despite the absence of their three injured stars.

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While midfield pair Russell and Noble are next to no chance of facing Broadbeach at Pizzey Park at 8.30pm on Friday, coach Colin Phelan said frontman Mutch could yet play a role.

His input would be a bonus for a Bulldogs side that beat Nerang on penalties in the FFA Cup a week prior to their season-opening win over the Sharks, which included two goals from striker Matt Hilton.

Gold Coast Premier League football (soccer) between Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach at Pizzey Park.Unable to access team lists.

“Going into this game (against Broadbeach) we’ve had two decent results but we know it will be very tough,” Phelan, whose looming rivals were held to a surprise 2-2 draw at home to Tweed United in Round 1, said.

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“Historically these games are always battles but I’d rather be in our position after the win last week. Every year they are there or thereabouts (and) I don’t think this year will be any different.”

Dolphins coach Lee Vernon said there signs of promise for his side in last week’s result, despite surrendering a 2-0 halftime lead.

“We have to look at what happened in that second half. I was quite happy with the first half (but) the second half we were all over the place and the things that we’re good at, we didn’t do,” Vernon said.

“We played really good football in the first half. We created a lot of chances but if you don’t stick the ball in the back of the net, as we had the opportunity to do, it can come back to bite you on the backside.

“The pressure is on the lads now. You draw the first game and then we’ve got Burleigh and Nerang (in our next two games), so we’ll have to bounce back.

“There’s a great deal of character amongst the team so we’ll see what they’re made of.”