Lions Off to Winning Start

For the first time in 14 years Beenleigh FC played host to Brisbane Premier League fixture at Chris Green Park on Saturday evening. After gaining promotion from the first division in 2009, Beenleigh rightfully took its place in the new look 14 team Veto Premier League. Taringa Rovers were the first club to visit and they soon learnt that while Beenleigh may be the new kids on the block, the Lions are not to be underestimated

After a had fought 2-1 victory in the reserve grade encounter, Beenleigh were quick out of the blocks in the main game and almost opened the scoring after just 6 seconds. The first 15 minutes was a frantic affair and after creating a number of chances the home side took the lead after Juso Juralidzja got on the end of a well placed David Hadfield ball and coolly slotted home. On the half hour mark it was Richard Neville’s turn to taunt the defence and after a mazy run that saw him beat three defenders he was eventually upended in the box and it was left to Craig Bramwell to slot home the resulting penalty. He did so comfortably and it was a well deserved 2-0 lead at the break in favour of Beenleigh.

The second continued in an end to end fashion and while the visitors caused problems at times it was Juralidzja who sealed the match with his second and the Lions third after 55 minutes. To their credit Taringa never quit and had by far the better of the last 25 minutes and looked set to cause some anxious moments after netting in the 65^th minute. But Beenleigh had done more than enough to earn an opening day win player coach Joe Morris was delighted with their efforts.

“The preseason has gone as well as we could have expected and we have been putting in some very good displays. Tonight was not as fluent as I had hoped, but sometimes the game just becomes an end to end shootout and we have the players here to make the difference when it does” and excited Morris said. Asked about the goals for the season he was far more reserved, “we are not getting ahead of ourselves, we are a promoted side and almost everybody is tipping us to finish in the bottom two and be relegated. There are some very good sides in the league and the only goal we set was to beat Taringa. As of 8-30 on Saturday that goal changed to beating Wolves on Friday and that’s the same approach we will take all season. After 26 rounds we will see how many of those goals we have achieved and where that leaves us”.

Beenleigh continue their Premier League season with a second home match on Friday Evening when they host 2009 Grand Final winners Brisbane (Wynnum) Wolves at Chris Green Park. Kick offs are Reserves 6:30, main game 8:30.