Gold Coast Knights focusing on positives despite being held to 1-1 draw by Mackay in NPL debut

IT was not a result befitting the occasion but the Gold Coast Knights are focusing on the positives from their historic NPL debut against Mackay and Whitsundays on Saturday night.

IT was not a result befitting the occasion but the Gold Coast Knights are focusing on the positives from their historic NPL debut against Mackay and Whitsundays on Saturday night.

The Knights marked arguably the biggest moment in the club’s history with a 1-1 draw at the Croatian Sports Centre, with an Adam Endean goal in first-half injury time cancelling out a spectacular opener from the visitors seven minutes earlier.

With man-of-the-match Nick Panetta a constant threat, the Knights dominated territory and possession but could not land the knockout blow after the break.

WHITE KNIGHT HAPPY TO PLAY HIS PART

However, coach Grae Piddick refused to dwell on the result.

“I think our general play was pretty good. We’ve just got to make sure we’re ruthless in front of goal,” Piddick, who returned to the NPL coaching ranks for the first time since 2017, said.

“Obviously we were extremely dominant in possession and had a number of opportunities to score. I think the goalkeeper for them played really well.

Gold Coast Knights goalscorer Adam Endean.

“We probably should have had three or four (goals) in the first 20 minutes but it didn’t quite come off and therefore they got a foot in the game and a bit of motivation. We’ve got to give credit to Mackay, they battled the whole time and stuck to their guns and defended gallantly.

“I’m pleased we created that many opportunities, now it’s just a matter of making sure those go in the net.”

MEET THE MEN DRIVING COAST’S NPL CHARGE

With a tough road trip to Western Pride now looming at 7pm on Saturday, Piddick said he expected his troops to improve after putting the club’s emotional night behind them.

“I think maybe there was a few nerves early,” he said.

“There’s some areas to sharpen up obviously only being the first game but the key thing is being ruthless in front of goal. (We need to work on) the final pass.

“I said to the boys ‘if we cross well (against Mackay) or slide through well we probably score quite a few more goals’. That will be a key focus (this week) making sure we can do that.”