A-League: Gold Coast 4 North Queensland 0

Gold Coast United have reignited their push for a top-two berth with a crushing 4-0 win over North Queensland in the A-League on Friday night.

Normal service resumed for striker Shane Smeltz as the New Zealand international scored a goal and helped set up two others in his first game for Gold Coast since leaving for Turkey last year.

Smeltz led from the front against a depleted Fury side that was without dangerman David Williams and midfield fixtures Ufuk Talay and Gareth Edds.

United coach Miron Bleiberg dropped Adelaide-bound midfielder Zenon Caravella to the bench in his first match since announcing his move to the Reds, but he only had to wait 14 minutes to see game time after Steve Pantelidis was forced off after a clash of heads.

But all eyes were on Smeltz to see if he could deliver the attacking spark that United were missing in his absence – and he did so in spades, having a hand in each of Bruce Djite’s two first-half goals.

That brace ended a 14-game scoreless drought for the part-time Socceroo.

The first came in the 22nd minute, thanks to a classy through-ball from Bas van den Brink, before doubling his tally in the 44th minute.

Smeltz scored a goal of his own just after the half-time break and 18-year-old striker Chris Harold completed the rout with his first A-League goal.