Gold Coast United have continued their winning start to the 2010/11 Youth League season and gone to the top of the ladder with a dominant 2-1 victory over the Newcastle Jets at Southport on Saturday.
First-year striker Chris Broadfoot put the home side in control early with a cracking right-footer that fizzed into the top-left corner from 35-yards, and his replacement Golgol Mebrahtu sealed the win midway through the second-half with a strike of his own.
Jets captain Jesse Pinto was scheming for the duration as he made the pace for the visitors but he didn-t find much assistance until Steven Veleski entered the fray just before an hour had expired.
The dynamic Veleski equalised with his first chance soon after joining the match and continued to threaten but without further result.
Broadfoot-s early strike set the tone for the match which United controlled for the duration.
Midway through the first half Jerrad Tyson became the hero for a moment when he denied a troublesome Jets double-act. The Gold Coast -keeper surged off his line to intercept a James Virgili header and when the ball fell to Gavin Forbes it looked as though the scores would be leveled but Tyson found a way to quash the danger from the ground.
At the 31st minute United should have had its second goal when Broadfoot dazzled through defenders and into the box, earning a penalty as Jon Griffiths came sliding across and into the legs of the in-form marksman.
Strike-man Chris Harold grabbed the ball as if to take the penalty but the more experienced Andrew Barasic overruled then proceeded to fluff the chance with a lazy poke over the top of goals.
United went to the break leading 1-0.
The Jets stumbled upon a great chance when Ben Halloran mistimed a clearing pass from deep in his own territory. Scott Pettit pounced on the opportunity for the visitors but United centre-back Zac Anderson got across in cover to spray the shot wide.
At the 56th minute Broadfoot was replaced and the spark disappeared from the home side-s attack with the Jets quick to equalise through Veleski. The substitute striker made a long run down the right edge and into the box before firing past Tyson to bring the contest to life.
Newcastle-s celebration was short-lived though as Broadfoot-s replacement Mebrahtu made his impact and put United back in front.
The striker took the ball at the top left corner of the box and drove low and hard into the net, leaving Jets ‘keeper Robbie Kolak clutching at air.
The victors threw all their tricks at the new competition leaders in the closing stages but the back four and Tyson managed to repel all challenges.
Gold Coast United Youth: 2 (Broadfoot 5- Mebrahtu 67‘)
Newcastle Jets Youth: 1 (Veleski 64‘)
@ Owen Park, Southport
