Prior to the kick off on Saturday night The Gap Gators were fourth from bottom of the Premier Division One table and Beenleigh were positioned one point behind competition leaders Pine Hills ready to pounce at any time that Pine Hills should slip up. Beenleigh beat The Gap impressively in the first round on their home pitch and the Gators came into this game on the back of a disappointing 3-0 loss away to Queensland Lions.

So not too many punters would have put money on The Gap getting any sort of result out of this second round fixture. But those that chose not to back the Gators ignored the resilience and fighting spirit that this side is capable of particularly on their home pitch. From the referee’s opening whistle the game was played at a high tempo and was physically competitive. It was also clear from early on that The Gap was unlikely to capitulate as they did in the first round against Beenleigh. The defence brilliantly organised by skipper Dom Kibbey was a mountain of strength and the man to man marking by Josh Jones and Josh Wicks continually frustrated Beenleigh’s attack.

Both sides created chances and had a number of speculative shots at goal but it was a single Beenleigh goal midway through the first period that separated them at half time. It was apparent though that with Steve Comino’s influence in midfield, Chris Mead enjoying his first start in may weeks and Levi Beel getting more and more into the game that the Gators were still a chance of securing something from this contest.

It was after half time that the real message became clear that the Gators were a threat to Beenleigh’s premiership chances. In many other games this season The Gap have lapsed in concentration in the first 10-15 minutes of the second half conceding unnecessary goals but not this time. They began to win more fifty/fifty challenges, place pressure on Beenleigh’s usually reliable defence and create more from midfield. It became a brave and gutsy performance with every Gap player giving their all, fighting tooth and nail to try and gain something for all their efforts. Players were ignoring overly physical challenges and playing on with bad knocks and things seemed to be despairing for the Gators when Matt Cooper, playing another mercurial game between the sticks was assisted off with a bad knee injury.

Despite constant pressure on the Beenleigh goal, particularly after pushing Dom Kibbey forward, all their brave efforts seemed as though they would lead to nothing until Chris Mead popped up to slot away a well deserved equalizer – much to the delight of all those at the ground. The last say in the game though went to replacement keeper Aaron Duncan who pulled off a magnificent save in injury time to prevent Beenleigh getting a late winner.

Every player deserved praise for their performances, never giving in and always staying focussed and positive. But one man of the match award had to be given and this went to Josh Wicks who gave one of the best performances he has ever given in a Gap shirt – a superb all round defensive display.

Coach Gerry McAvoy was in raptures about his side’s effort “In all my years of coaching I haven’t witnessed as brave and gutsy a display as this Gap side today. They never gave up and battled right until the end – and it literally was the end when they scored the equalizer! It was a truly deserved equalizer as well. We weren’t the better side but neither were Beenleigh irrespective of their place on the table. It was a crucial point for us and I am confident that with this kind of display being put in for the rest of the season we can stay in this league. On tonight’s effort alone we deserve our spot but there is still a lot of work to be done and we will just take each game as it comes”.

The Gap is away to top of the table Pine Hills next Friday night in what should be another test of the Gators resolve and resilience.