Goals from current A-League Golden Boot winner Shane Smeltz and Brazilian import Milson in the last ten minutes were enough to seal victory for the home side after Danny Murphy had put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes.

"I think we did a big credit for the A-League as a whole, we will be taken more seriously than ever before," said Bleiberg.

"Its just part of our preparation and I'd trade the win today for any win in the A-League."

Fulham made sweeping changes at half-time and fielded a largely second-string side for the final 45 minutes...but many would still each be earning the entire annual squad salary of Gold Coast United.

Boss Roy Hodgson put the defeat down to an undercooked side that was still out of condition after their season break.

"We did quite well for 60 or 70 minutes, considering it was our first game after just four days of training," he said.

"After they scored their first goal there was always going to be a lot of pressure on us and some of our guys just aren't used to that pressure."