Gold Coast United duo back for NPL Women’s opener against Easts

THEY are the returning stars bringing a new dimension to Gold Coast United’s NPL Women’s assault - and they believe their input could be the difference in 2018.

THEY are the returning stars bringing a new dimension to Gold Coast United’s NPL Women’s assault.

And Deeanna Thompson and Ellie Fryer believe their input could be the difference as the Surfsiders fight to right the wrongs of 2018.

Billed as two of the club’s biggest signings before kick off last season, the 24-year-old duo were forced to watch much of the campaign from the sideline as United battled for consistency en route to a sixth-placed finish.

Gold Coast United players Deeanna Thompson and Eloise Fryer at Tallebudgera's Coplick Family Sports Park, the teams new home ground. Picture Glenn Hampson.

While winger Thompson managed 11 appearances - across three stints - amid a fractured knee cap and torn quad, defender Fryer played just four times before undergoing a knee reconstruction.

Now back to full fitness, the former Souths United pair are primed for Friday’s 8.30pm opener against Easts at Coorparoo.

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“We’ll both be pretty strong coming back this year hopefully. I think it’s exciting for the side,” said Thompson, who won the 2015 Golden Boot with 23 goals for Palm Beach before bagging 20 with Souths the following year.

“It was exciting to be there as one of the marquee players (last year) but obviously lots has happened, so it’s a similar feeling to the start of last season. I just want to have a good season with the team and play good football.

“(The squad is) looking a lot sharper coming in this season than last season and the depth is much greater. It’d be good to have my Golden Boot title back from 2015.

“If I could get something like 25-30 goals this season I’d be happy with that.”

Thompson (Alstonville) and Fryer (Bangalow) grew up playing with and against each other in NSW’s Northern Rivers, before reuniting at Souths in 2016.

Now living together at Varsity Lakes, Fryer said she hoped their chemistry would carry coach Michael Cook’s side deep into the finals race.

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“We seem to work really well together because we have played together for so long. Hopefully with that combination we can help us bring a better season than what happened with Gold Coast United last year,” Fryer, whose 2017 campaign was hampered by an MCL tear in the same knee, said.

“(It’s like) a new signing for Gold Coast so from that perspective it’s kind of exciting for (the club) as well as myself. Last year (Deeanna and I) had a change with a new club and it was meant to be exciting. So to be let down and let my teammates down was pretty bad and annoying.

“But my body in general is a lot stronger now so I’m excited to see what happens this year. I feel reborn again in the NPL.”