Piddick: The Players Deserve Credit
Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez/Moreton Bay United FC
Moreton Bay United coach Adam Piddick says his players' achievement to win PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Premiers shouldn't be tarnished despite the anticlimactic end to the home-and-away season.
Jets were awarded the Premiership title on Tuesday after the final three matches of the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season were washed out and subsequently cancelled by Football Queensland after dates could not be found to reschedule the fixtures.
In line with competition rules, these matches were declared as nil-all draws.
That ruling resulted in Jets edging Brisbane Strikers on goal difference for their maiden Premiership title in only their third year of competitive football.
Prior to their final match Jets were considered heavy favourites to claim the title with their last remaining fixture against a SWQ Thunder side yet to record a win in two seasons of the competition.
Piddick said while Saturday’s wash-out and resulting cancellations were not ideal, his players’ deserved recognition for their performance this season.
“The achievement is still exactly the same. We have been up the top for pretty much the whole year and the only time we haven’t been on top was when we had a game in hand,” Piddick explained.
“We’ve worked hard to achieve this and I don’t think anyone can take that from us.”
He added, “Obviously it’s a difficult situation and to be fair to the players they have taken it alright.”
“They wish they could’ve won it on the park but I believe it is right for them to win the Premiership for all the hard work they have done and for being on top of the table when these circumstances come.”
Jets established their title credentials early in the campaign and opened the season with an undefeated run of nine games.
The club also recorded the second best returns in both goals for and goals against across the campaign, resulting in the competition's best goal differential.
Piddick said despite the match-winning efforts in attack and defence, it was his team's overall discipline that was key to finishing the season in top spot.
"We've only had one player suspended from yellow cards, so that shows the nature of the boys and how disciplined they are both on and off the pitch."
Further, with the club’s first PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals Series looming, Piddick said his side aren't seeking any need extra motivation in the knock-out post-season format.
“For me and for the team, for the football club and the people who care about the football club, we don’t have anything to prove in the Finals.”
“We’ve done really well this year and hopefully we can keep going for a month or two longer.”
He also said he wouldn’t place any extra importance on a potential Jets versus Strikers PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Grand Final showdown.
“It’s a promoters dream and it’s what everyone wants now. If it does happen then I’m sure it will be put on a pedestal.”
“But if we go into any game thinking of revenge or with anything to prove then I think we will go wrong,” he concluded.
As Premiers, Jets will now represent Queensland in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series against Premiers of the seven other Member Federations divisions later this month.
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