Central Coast Mariners continued their pre-season preparations with another behind-closed-doors friendly, taking on reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers Auckland FC on Saturday.
Two second half goals from the Knights’ new number nine, Sam Cosgrove, gave Auckland the win, but there was plenty of positives for Mark Jackson to take, none more so than the return of Bradley Tapp who played his first minutes match-minutes since his ACL injury last year.
We are now just three weeks away from the 2025/26 season, as we kick-off on October 19th against our F3 Derby Rivals Newcastle Jets, at polytec Stadium.
On general sale NOW! 🤩
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 26, 2025
Get yours 👉 https://t.co/snr1y4QJQB#CCMFC https://t.co/mdsdCV4uyc
Line-Up
Starting XI: Redmayne; Roux, Donachie, Paull, Kennedy; Eames, Steele; Ngor, Di Pizio, De Lima; Edmondson.
Substitutions:
46′ ON: Peraic-Cullen, Mauragis, Herrington, Di Pizio, Faisal, Duarte OFF: Redmayne, Roux, Donachie, Brandtman, De Lima, Edmondson.
70′ ON: Tapp, Theoharous OFF: Eames, Ngor
83′ ON: Mantell OFF: Steele
First Half
Sabit Ngor looked lively early on as he looked to win his one-on-one battles with Callan Elliot, he won the Mariners a corner on 4 minutes, which saw James Donachie flick just wide, the first half-chance of the game.
Francis De Vries’ corners were a big weapon for Auckland last season, he swung in two dangerous deliveries in the opening 10 minutes, with Hiroki Sakai and Cosgrove able to connect, but unable to trouble the Mariners goal.
New Mariners signing Will Kennedy showed great positional awareness to deal with Jesse Randall’s low cross minutes later. Cosgrove had a good headed chance but couldn’t find the target, before Sakai got his head to another corner on 17 minutes, but was unable to keep his effort down.
The best chance of the half fell to Cosgrove on 22 minutes, but he was unable to get a clean connection at close range, from another Randall cross.
Donachie threatened again for the Mariners from a set-piece but saw his header blocked by an Auckland defender, the final chance of the half.
Second Half
Miguel Di Pizio had a big chance early in the second half, he caught his strike sweetly but Oli Sail got behind it.
Auckland then had a strong spell, piling pressure on the Mariners goal through a string of set pieces from which the Mariners defence initially held firm, before finally Cosgrove opened the scoring with a glancing header from another wicked De Vries delivery.
Tapp was introduced on 70 minutes for the Mariners and had some neat touches, before going close to a goal as he connected with a volley at the back post, but saw his effort blocked.
Auckland’s lead was doubled late on as Cosgrove tapped home from close range after some good work from Randall to get in behind and tee up his strike partner.
The Mariners had a chance to get one back on 90 minutes when Di Pizio slid in Abdul Faisal, but Sail made another strong save one-on-one.
🗓️ #OnThisDay in 2023, the Mariners announced Mark Jackson as our Isuzu UTE A-League Men's Head Coach!
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 26, 2025
7⃣8⃣ matches in charge
🏆 A historic treble
🏅 2023/24 A-League Coach of the Year
🔜 Ready to go into his third season as gaffer!#CCMFC | @aleaguemen pic.twitter.com/evK4RPf8IA
