A hat-trick from Shane Smeltz and a double from Kristian Rees gave United's biggest home crowd of the season plenty to cheer about in an entertaining fixture that offered everything.

With both sets of supporters in full voice, it was Roar who struck first on seven minutes.

Sergio van Dijk crossed from the left, Henrique knocked the ball over his head into the middle of the penalty area, United captain Jason Culina failed to clear properly and it ended up back with Henrique who shot straight at 'keeper Jess Vanstattan.

The resulting deflection fell to Roar midfielder Matt McKay, who made no mistake slamming first-time into the back of the net.

Spurred-on Brisbane then won a corner five minutes later, defender Luke Devere met it well with a glancing effort but Zenon Caravella was able to get a foot on it to deflect wide.

Gold Coast's first effort came a short time later when Michael Thwaite put in a deep cross to Joel Porter whose header was on target but straight at the keeper.

Rees felt the wrath of referee Strebre Delovski in the 23rd minute earning himself a yellow card when he fouled van Dijk just inside the United half.

Steve Pantelidis followed quickly, earning his 11th yellow card of the season after a rash tackle on McKay.

With Brisbane having the better of possession, Adam Sarota flashed wide just before the half-hour mark, Roar nearly broke through United's lines twice more, but some last-ditch defending enabled Gold Coast to clear.

Playing against his former team for the first time, Charlie Miller then hit a placid shot from outside the area three minutes later but his effort landed safely into the hands of Roar custodian Griffin McMaster.

Five mintues before half-time, United were dealt a blow to their defensive stocks when left-back Adama Traore rolled his ankle. He was replaced by Anderson.

The Brazilian substitute looked to stamp his authority on the match flashing wide a short time later, his effort followed Thwaite's low left-foot drive straight at McMaster.

With Gold Coast lifting in intensity, the men in yellow found an equaliser deep into first-half stoppage time.

Rees made amends for his earlier yellow, when he smashed home a ball which fell perfectly for him after McKay failed to clear a Culina free-kick.

Emerging from the tunnel buoyed by the late equaliser United went straight onto the attack, Caravella playing in Culina who darted into the area back-heeling to Porter who was streaming into the box.

The pressure in the Brisbane area was too much for Roar defender Zullo who bundled into the back of the No.14, earning United a penalty.

Shane Smeltz took responsibility for the spot-kick and made no mistake, slotting low to McMaster's right.

With Roar rattled and on the back foot. the away side then conceded a corner.

Gold Coast's first-half hero Rees scored his second goal after nipping in at the front post to dink a right-foot effort past the extended right arm of McMaster, making the score 3-1.

The home side then put the game beyond doubt in the 60th minute when Smeltz peeled off Roar defenders Craig Moore and Luke DeVere and headed Porter's cross expertly home, the World Cup-bound All-White confirming why he's the league's leading goal scorer.

Things then went pear-shaped for the Roar as they opened up and nearly granted Smeltz his hat-trick five minutes later, but the Kiwi international wasn't to be denied, Culina playing a neat chip into Caravella who slid a pass across the goal mouth to Smeltz who tapped home a classic poacher's goal.

Van Dijk tried to give the Roar some respect on the score sheet in the 80th minute, but his effort found the wrong side of Vanstrattan's left upright, as did Roar defender Josh McCloughan's effort two minutes before time.

However, the damage was done, United claiming bragging rights over their rivals for the third time this season.