Surfers Paradise pay tribute to victims of Greek wildfires before crucial win over Palm Beach

ON a day when Surfers Paradise put the Gold Coast Premier League finals race into context, it was fitting the football gods chose to smile down upon them.

ON a day when Surfers Paradise put the Gold Coast Premier League finals race into context, it was fitting the football gods chose to smile down upon them.

With Greece decimated by raging wildfires in recent days, fourth-placed Apollo paid tribute to their roots in the European nation with a minute’s silence before Saturday’s crucial Premier League encounter with Palm Beach.

THE BULLETIN’S PREMIER LEAGUE CRYSTAL BALL

Palm Beach's Joshua Mussell tackled by Surfers Paradise’s Bruno Rodriguez. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Less than two hours later, karma rewarded them with a 1-0 victory — courtesy of a Yuji Hirayama penalty inside the final 10 minutes — and with it, one foot in the finals door.

Their good fortune continued that night as the Gold Coast Knights (1-0 over Coomera) and Broadbeach United (1-0 over Nerang) helped them extend their advantage over the chasing pack to seven points.

THE 70-0 WIN HELENSVALE DIDN’T NEED

While disappointed the state of the Lex Bell Oval surface hindered their push to “play football”, Surfers coach Alex Morrison said he was glad to put last week’s 1-0 loss to Nerang behind him.

“Our central midfield really played well and closed them down well but I think (Palm Beach) are a really good young team. They’ve got good wide players so it was hard for Palm Beach because they like to hit the ball wide and try and play and the ball just ran away from them,” Morrison, who took the Gold Coast Knights to last year’s premiership, said.

“I’m happy with the points today but overall I would’ve liked to have been higher up the ladder (this season). I’m disappointed with last week’s result but Nerang did well and you can’t take that away from them.

BELIEF BUILDING AT BOND

“We drew with Nerang 1-1 in the first part of the season so we’ve had results that (leave you) where you are on the table. We’ve got a massive game on Tuesday against Burleigh and they’re obviously flying high, they’re a fantastic team so we’re going to have to be ready to go.”

Surfers president Telly Karadimos said the staging of one minute’s silence was important for the club.

“As the disaster in Athens is affecting the whole world, we as a Greek soccer club (wanted) to show our respect to those that have died and to their families that are suffering worldwide,” he said.

Last night, struggling Murwillumbah narrowly missed out on one of the upsets of the season after Burleigh scored late to secure a 1-1 draw.