After three weeks with no football, Tweed United FC finally got back on the paddock on Saturday afternoon, with A grade drawing three-all despite leading with 25 minutes to go.
The Tweed Marlins got off to a flying start against sixth-placed Pacific Pines, with Alex Thelwall (wonder boy) scoring the first of yet another hat-trick in the second minute.
The first half was dominated by Tweed United FC who seemed to be doing it pretty easy. Adam Karlos was killing them on the left wing, beating his man several times and providing opportunities for the strikers, only to be denied by a very good Pacific Pines goal keeper.
The second goal came from a set-play when Matt Noble took a pinpoint free kick from 40 metres to curl into the far post for a leaping Alex Thelwall to head home, which took Tweed into the sheds with a two-nil lead. Pacific Pines came out for the second half with a completely different attitude and created their own luck, with plenty of fight and determination.
The referee awarded Pacific Pines with a penalty for handball after the ball bounced off Michael Kolovos’s shoulder and Pines were back in the game.
Thellwall seemed to snuff out Pacific Pines’ hopes when he ran onto a through ball 40 metres out, sprinted away and beat the keeper, one on one, to make it 3-1 with 25 mins to go. When a miss-timed clearance header by Matt Noble found the back of his own net, Pacific Pines were back in it again and drew level with five minutes to go.
Tweed really turned the wick up only to be denied by the goalie time and time again so, after 90 mins, we had to settle for a disappointing three-all draw, leaving the field rueing many missed opportunities.
It was great to welcome back Tait Burns who returned to Tweed after a stint in Rugby League and his combination with his cousin Alex Thelwall up-front is going to cause plenty of headaches for opposition defences for the remainder of the season.
Reserve Grade won again, to make it nine straight wins and a very impressive for and against record of 36 goals scored and only four against.
Striker Nolan White scored both goals in the two-nil win, ably assisted by Aaron Maingay in the midfield and a solid performance from Youth player Daniel Leslie at the back.
Next Saturday, Tweed United FC travel to Tugun’s Betty Diamond Field for the local derby against arch rivals Tugun, with Reserves kicking off at 3pm and ‘A’ grade at 5pm.
We’ll be chasing two more wins to keep both teams firmly entrenched at the top end of their tables and chasing finals football in 2012. Go the Marlins.
