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Coast feel Fowler Fury

31 October 2009 | 22:52 - AAP

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Robbie Fowler has scored a double to give North Queensland a 2-0 win over Gold Coast at a near-empty Skilled Park.


 

Fury skipper Fowler scored a double to take his A-League goal count to eight as he lifted North Queensland off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 loss in front of just 2,616 fans.

The former Liverpool star broke the deadlock in the 64th-minute with a clinical strike to reward David Williams' fine lead-up work before killing the home side off from the penalty spot after Steve Pantelidis handled in the box.

For United, the one time high-flyers of the A-League, it was their second loss to a last-placed opponent in a week of tumult.

While Palmer capped the crowd at 5,000 to save stadium costs, locals showed their displeasure with less than half of that turning up to watch the two expansion clubs who drew 7,526 the first time Fowler was in town in round two.

Many of those that did attend on Saturday night were even more infuriated as only one of four stands were open.

The Coast's most hardy fans, 'The Beach', protested the mining magnate's crazy plan designed at saving himself $100,000 throughout a scoreless first half in an eery atmosphere.

Brandishing banners which read "Scrap the Cap", "Fans Not Dollars", and "Cap is Crap", the disgruntled supporters group, decked out in yellow lifesavers caps and shirts, the also angrily chanted "stop the cap" and pointed at Palmer's private box.

The revolt continued in to the second half, despite whispers the group were planning to stage a dramatic walkout to further ram home their message.

Instead they defied security personnel by breaking into the vacant northern stand where they usually set up shop behind the goals.

Palmer, one of Australia's richest men and valued at $5.5 billion, ignored a Football Federation Australia directive by limiting the attendance after averaging less than 6,000 for the new clubs first five home games.

To add to the drama, the Queensland derby was in fleeting danger of not even beginning after North Queensland chairman Don Matheson took issue with the state of the pitch.

Matheson held prolonged discussions with A-League boss Archie Fraser, Skilled Park groundsman Peter Cronin and an FFA ground inspector before and during the pre-match warm-up.

Although the surface on the western side of the field looked patchy, Fraser said it was flat and playable.

While Matheson had to be convinced, Fraser admitted the pitch was much improved from the United-Perth match a fortnight ago when there were alarming ruts.

Coast coach Miron Bleiberg also baffled United fans by starting Brazilian Jefferson in his first match after knee surgery and leaving Joel Porter and Zenon Caravella on the bench.

The Fury's third win for the season avenged their embarrassing 5-0 loss at Skilled Park the last time the teams met.

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