We've just returned from North Sydney Oval where we saw a disciplined and tough Brisbane outfit have a deserved 2-0 win over the hapless, hopeless and unspirited Northern Spirit.
Both goals came in the first half - the first from a good corner from Meredith which found an uncontested McLaren head; the second from a well-taken shot by Grierson in which he had enough time to control the ball, shift to the other foot, knit a jumper, have a cup of coffee, change the bed linen and have a holiday on the Whitsundays before actually putting it away. It turns out that many of the players - on both sides - thought the ball was offside and didn't do anything about it because they were waiting for the whistle. Silly boys. Just prior to that, Meredith missed a sitter; and continued to spray balls over and around goal every time he touched it afterwards.
Northern Spirit's best chance came in the second half when Bingley (not sure 'cause it's so hard to see at NSO) had a long-range shot which almost CHIPPED Clint but which he gathered in time to save, took a step back and to the side, but managed to keep the ball on the right side of the line (or the upright)!
Best on ground for the Strikers - McLaren, Gwynne. For the Spirit .... hmm ... hard to say, but young Ryan Griffiths impressed for the 20 minutes he wwas on, and Perinich and Casserley were not too bad in a fairly average display. Robbie Slater was - to be kind - "off his game tonight".
Kosmina was at the post-match press conference swilling beer and telling Graham Arnold what he should do, which Graham took with his usual good and gentle nature.
I asked Kosmina about the move to the Gold Coast and he told me to ask Tony Petty (whom I couldn't find). I asked team manager (and QSF Board member), Dazzles, about the move to the Gold Coast and he said "it won't happen".
The crowd was 6,714 on a cool, wet and breezy Sydney day (what other sort of day is there here?). The local supporters booed Northern Spirit at the end of the game.