They missed the Gold Coast Soccer Premiership by a point, finishing second overall after the home and away matches, but the Tweed Valley Kings are still in a with a big chance of winning the silverware.
The Kings – who like many of the Tweed-based sides have often struggled in the Gold Coast top flight against stronger, bigger and more financial Gold Coast clubs, have been the big improvers of the season.
They will face off against Southport over the next two weeks, both home and away in the semi final, with the winner taking on either Broadbeach or Merrimac in the final.
Kings coach Craig Madden was full of praise for his side and their performance thus far.
So why have they done so well?
“It’s the coaching of course,” he joked.
“The guys are the ones that have been doing all the work – they should be congratulated,” he added seriously.
He said the side had plenty of good players but they had really done their jobs this year, “worked for each other and enjoyed their football”.
“They have shown a lot more confidence in their own ability.”
That self-belief and ability to play as a champion team was evident in the final home and away game of the year at Kingscliff.
Going into the final round sitting in third, just a handful of points from the top spot, they needed to beat leaders Southport and hope that Merrimac (fourth) either drew with or defeated second-placed Broadbeach to take the Gold Coast Premiership.
Playing in heavy rain and reduced to 10 men for much of the game after an early send-off, the Tweed Valley Kings showed just why they have been one of the top teams of the Gold Coast Premier League this season.
The Kings won their final game 2-1 over Southport in a heroic display in intermittent heavy rain and on a sodden, muddy Reg Dalton Oval, Kingscliff last Saturday night in front of a large stoic crowd of supporters.
Refusing to give in, the Kings fought back from 1-0 down to be leading 2-1 thanks to two Luke Morley goals and despite a sustained attack against the 11 men from Southport (they were eventually reduced to 10 men due to a send-off for two yellow violations within minutes of each other, 10 minutes before the end of the game) they kept their noses in front.
The excitement of the crowd and team was tempered by the results from up north with Merrimac going down 2-1 after being level with Broadbeach with 20 minutes to go.
