Nerang coach ‘devastated’ by loss to Surfers Paradise, but winners insist Eagles will challenge for title

RETURNING coach Dave Benigno admits he was “absolutely devastated” by Nerang’s 3-2 loss to Surfers Paradise on Saturday night, but the man who masterminded the Eagles’ demise is adamant they will be a Premier League title challenger.

RETURNING coach Dave Benigno admits he was “absolutely devastated” by Nerang’s 3-2 loss to Surfers Paradise on Saturday night, but the man who masterminded the Eagles’ demise is adamant they will be a Premier League title challenger.

Coaching at Premier League level for the first time since leaving Surfers at the end of 2017, Benigno watched as Nerang fought bravely against his old club in their season opener at Lex Bell Oval.

The Eagles were denied a share of the points by a late Lucas Lefevre strike, having twice fought back from a goal down.

An opening goal from Apollo’s Brandon Gomez was cancelled out by a Robbie Smith own goal, before Gomez struck again to hand the hosts a 2-1 halftime lead.

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Brad Scott then found the net to level for the Eagles, only for Lefevre to break the visitors’ hearts.

But while Benigno went home despondent, Surfers counterpart Alex Morrison said he needn’t be too concerned.

“As the game went, you could tell Nerang are fit and they’re going to be a good side. They’ll be definitely fighting for the title in my opinion,” Morrison, who steered Apollo to last year’s preliminary final in his first season in charge, said.

Surfers Paradise Apollo's Dylan Barwick and Nerang winger Koki Miyasaka in action in the Gold Coast Premier League on Saturday night. Picture: Luke Sorensen

“I thought it was a very good game of football, (it was) fast. First half I thought we were a lot better than them, we should’ve been up by more goals.

“(But) credit to them, obviously Dave got them going and the second half they came back into the game.”

Having fallen to Burleigh on penalties in the FFA Cup last weekend, Beningo said the Eagles were much improved.

“They bounced back in the manner that I thought they would and they put in a shift that you’d want them to put in against a good side,” he said.

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“I’m just absolutely devastated (we lost) based on a few mistakes. (Surfers) won the first half and we won the second half. The result certainly didn’t show that but it is what it is.”

At Pizzey Park on Saturday, Burleigh opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Palm Beach, with goals from Matt Hilton (two) and Yuto Hayamizu enough to overcome Fraser Eller’s strike.

Battlers last season, Tweed United surprised perennial heavyweights Broadbeach United with a 2-2 draw at Nikiforides Family Park on Friday night, while Coomera thumped Mudgeeraba 6-0 at Viney Park today.