In a stunning lift, Nerang’s FQPL Men’s U23s and Firsts spent last week sticking points in the bag, and with it came a flurry of quality goals in the back of their opponent’s nets.
VIDEO BELOW — ALL FOURTEEN NERANG GOALS
PALM BEACH VS NERANG / SUN 4 MAY
First up was an away trip last Sunday to Palm Beach where our U23s were unlucky to not get the win, certainly dominating the play for 90 minutes but unable to convert it in the final third, ripping a draw from the Shark’s jaws in the dying minutes of the game in the form of quality Tobias McArthur strike placed from outside the box in the 88th minute of the game.
The momentum built and carried through into the First Grade match, the Eagles putting on a show of grit and resilience after netting early in the 17th minute from a wild midfield floating shot from Douglas Santana, chipping the Palm Beach keeper. Palm Beach rallied back and, using its ever-present home ground advantage, flipped the match into a 2-1 lead which carried well into the second half.
With the comeback in their sights, a 60th-minute penalty was converted easily by Nerang’s Doug Santana, bagging a brace for his poise on the ball and locking the scores at two a piece.
The teams deadlocked, it seemed a draw was on the cards until the Eagle’s crashed forward, digging in to deliver a series of threatening attack plays, until a perfectly executed downward header from substitute Paschal Mbaka slipped under the Palmy keeper’s dive and found the corner of the goal in the 87th minute, deservedly sending the Eagles ahead.
Just two minutes later, a slick combination run through the middle saw Jai Tomlinson squeeze a shot off through the blue traffic to score for Nerang, making it a 4-2 win at the final whistle.
NERANG VS PIMPAMA / TUE 6 MAY
No rest for the lads as on Tuesday their catch-up home games against Pimpama went ahead in less-than-favourable wet conditions.
The Nerang U23s translated their Palm Beach frustration into positive action, carving through the visitors in a fine display in front of a boisterous mind-week home crowd.
A quality hat trick was bagged by Lucas Wood, with two solid goals including an epic solo run from left wing through multiple defenders before firing near the penalty spot and finding the net, and himself whipping in a penalty perfectly converted.
Stand out playmaker, Nerang’s Nicholas Jeffrey delivered a pin point left foot lob assist, parking the ball onto the waiting feet of Wilken Weinert who finished his run with a classy full volley shot, placed in the bottom corner. Not to miss out, Jeffrey himself also picked up a spilled shot from the Pimpama goalkeeper late in the game, blasting his own strike into their net, making it 5 goals for Nerang at the final whistle, and a convincing 5-2 win for Nerang.
The First Grade was always going to be a tighter match up and it proved so from the beginning, after Pimpama’s Rhys Prudhoe produced one of the goals of the season in just the second minute of the game, spotting Nerang’s goalkeeper Daniel Orr off his line and sinking a world-class genuine half field shot from the half way line all the way into the back of Nerang’s net.
What would be a deflating goal for most teams didn’t shake the Nerang resolve, with the game quickly returning to full force, Nerang taking it right back to the visitors.
Nerang’s Paschal Mbaka sparked a fierce come back with two quick-succession goals, running in behind to slip one easily past the keeper in the 14th minute, and again with a fire header coming off a snap cross from Alex Jones, Mbaka gifted free reign over the back post space and finishing strongly to put Nerang ahead. A third goal for Nerang, again from a clever steal by Paschal Mbaka as he capitalised on some defensive indecision by Pimpama, sealing the hat trick for Paschal and the 3 -1 lead for Nerang in the 60th minute.
The visitors clawed back late with a parting goal, and then another with Nerang keeper Dan Orr again coming unstuck and gifting a penalty to Pimpama wide in the box which was easily converted for a 3 all score going into the final minutes.
As a draw result was looming, it was an undeterred Nerang Eagles attack which broke the deadlock, Jai Tomlinson pulling out the goods with a desperate sliding power shot right through and over the Pimpama keeper, coming from a scintillating through ball pass from none other than our 85th minute substitute Kobi Tomlinson.
Some clever strategic team management and growing confidence within the squad puts Nerang in the driver’s seat heading forward, with this weekend’s away match against Murwillumbah postponed, and the next scheduled round to take place at home here at Nerang this Saturday 17th of May against Broadbeach United — kicking off at 3pm for the U23s and 5PM for First Grade //
PALM BEACH VS NERANG • U23s 1-1 draw — Firsts 4-2 win (brace to Doug Santana)
NERANG VS PIMPAMA • U23s 5-2 win (hat trick Lucas Wood) — Firsts 4-3 win (hat trick Paschal Mbaka)
ALL FOURTEEN GOALS below in video