Gold Coast United held at home by Heart

A warm, sunny and near empty Skilled Park was the venue for the final match of round 15 of the Hyundai A-League with Gold Coast United playing host to Melbourne Heart. Both sides were coming off losses on Big Wednesday, going down to the Jets and Adelaide United respectively.

United coach Miron Blieberg won't have been happy with the game's opening goal, scored by Melbourne Heart's returning Kristian Sarkies. Firstly, United's Michael Thwaite was caught in possession just outside his own area before fouling Eli Babalj in an attempt to win it back, and the two man wall put up to defend the free kick offered little in the way of protection for Jerrad Tyson between the posts as Sarkies was able to find the corner of the net.

It was a welcome goal for Sarkies, who promised much a few years ago, especially as a dead ball specialist, but has battled injuries and form ever since.

It took 17 minutes for Gold Coast to muster an attack of note, as big frontman Maceo Rigters put his laces behind a shot that took a deflection on the way to goal, forcing Clint Bolton into a sharp save down to his left.

The atmosphere or lack-there-of inside the stadium appeared to be having a real effect on the game, as it took on a reserve-team or training match type feel without any real rhythm to it.

Eli Babalj had arguably the next real opportunity to add to the scoring, cutting neatly inside onto his right foot to create space but his crisply hit shot was straight at the 'keeper, who saved comfortably.

A minute later, James Brown had an almost identical effort at the other end, cutting inside on his left foot as he ran into the area only for his curling effort to take a deflection and drift wide of the far post.

The biggest blow for the Heart came when captain Fred limped off seven minutes before half time with what appeared to be a groin injury and had to be substituted.

Gold Coast will still be wondering how Kristian Rees didn't equalise just before the break, as his header hit the base of the post before rebounding straight back to the big defender who looked to have turned the ball home at the second attempt only for an instinctive save from Bolton to deny him again.

The momentum was with the home side and the visitors had their 'keeper to thank yet again moments later as he got down to his right to turn away James Brown's low drive that looked set to find the back of the net.

Poor decision making at crucial times was the theme of the early part of the second half, as both teams carved out good opportunities on the break only to let themselves down with poor final balls.

The first shot of note of the second period came from Matt Thompson, who was put through by Babalj following Tyson's poor clearance. Thompson had to stretch to get decent purchase on the shot but was denied by Tyson who atoned for his error by tipping the effort around the post.

Despite creating little, the home side were always in the contest, and pulled level with 20 minutes to go following a goal mouth scramble. Peter Jungschlager stood a ball up to the back post which was volleyed in by Rees and turned home neatly with a backheel on the line from Rigters.

Having equalised, Gold Coast had found a second wind, and almost took the lead moments later. A dropping ball 20 yards from goal was met on the volley by Paul Beekmans who beat everybody but the inside of the post as the ball rebounded agonisingly across the face of goal and away to safety.

It signalled a wave of United attacks on the Heart goal with Bolton having to make another good save from Adama Traore.

Kristian Sarkies almost scored a spectacular second for the Heart, as the game sprang into life. Teeing up the shot from the middle of Gold Coast's half and seemingly nothing on, Sarkies' rasping drive cannoned back off the crossbar with Tyson well beaten.

The home side were cursing their luck 60 seconds later as Beekmans then hit the other post, this time with a header from eight yards out as Bolton watched on in hope.

The run of play was very much with the hosts in the closing stages, who had Rees joining every attack as a makeshift centre forward.

Despite their best efforts, there was to be no winner as the teams settled for a draw that no doubt suited the visitors more than the desperate home side.

Player of the year points:
1. Paul Beekmans
2. Adama Traore
3. Clint Bolton