Tweed Heads have got their Gold Coast Soccer First Division season off to a flying start with a 5-2 victory over arch rivals Tugun at Arkinstall Park, Tweed Heads. Playing in windy overcast conditions, the home team were behind early after their near neighbours scored early in the game. However, they bounced back quickly with five unanswered goals to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
“It is a good first up result,” coach Mark Thelwall said of his team’s performance. “We were up 2-1 at the half-time break and then scored three quick goals after the break. Their keeper saved a few chances too.
“We started poorly – a little disjointed.” However he said the team soon hit their straps, coming home strongly to record their biggest win over Tugun in several years.
Scott French potted two goals with one apiece to brothers and new recruits Michael and Chris Kolovos with teenager Rob Dickerson – who played half a game in reserve grade coming in to the top side, scoring Tweed’s final goal.
Tugun clawed one back right on full-time but it was too little too late for the blue and gold team. Thelwall said a lot of their first up success was down to strong pre-season work with the Kangaroos playing seven trials – all against Premier League teams.
Tweed will now regroup to take on another old rival, Griffith University at Musgrave this week.
The two teams had some legendary battles in the early to mid naughties and Thelwall is expecting a tough encounter against the university side.
“They are big boys – very physical,” he said of their second opponents of the year.
