Gold Coast United confident of reaching NPLW finals ahead of three games in seven days

A GRUELLING seven-day test could make or break Gold Coast United’s NPL Women’s finals quest but in-form attacker Deeanna Thompson has no doubt the Surfsiders will emerge unscathed to reach the top six.

A GRUELLING seven-day test could make or break Gold Coast United’s NPL Women’s finals quest but in-form attacker Deeanna Thompson has no doubt the Surfsiders will emerge unscathed to reach the top six.

Sitting seventh entering Saturday’s Round 16 battle with lowly Sunshine Coast, United stretched their unbeaten streak to four games with a 5-0 thumping at Coplick Family Sports Park.

Mackenzie Akins and Holly Jarrett helped the hosts to a 2-0 halftime lead with goals inside the first 20 minutes, before Zoe Corbett, Rie Kitano and Thompson completed the rout with strikes after the break.

DOLPHINS REDISCOVERING GOLDEN TOUCH

Michael Cook’s side now faces a trip to Mitchelton for a catch-up game at 7.30pm on Wednesday, before backing up for their third outing in seven days away to fellow playoff hopefuls Logan Lightning on Saturday.

Gold Coast United’s Deeanna Thompson.

But Thompson, who has a team-high nine goals for United this season, said it would only serve to fuel the Surfsiders’ finals push.

“If we win the games we should win and take points where we deserve to, we will finish in the top six,” the Mullumbimby product, 24, said.

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“We’re really starting to build some momentum. We were having trouble (early in the season) finding our feet and finding our particular playing style, but these last two or three games we have figured out how we want to play and how to utilise players.

“We have got a good opportunity to take 12 points (in a short period) so it definitely is important. If we continue to play the same way we have been, it’s definitely doable.”

United’s men now appear out of the NPL finals race after falling 4-1 at home to Brisbane Strikers on Saturday night.

The visitors led 2-0 with 20 minutes to play before Dean Wernerson pulled one back for United, but two more Strikers goals ended the contest.

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The Surfsiders are now seven points adrift of fourth-placed Olympic, who have two games in hand.