Central Coast Mariners Assistant Coach Phil Moss says the Club’s football staff will be looking for the team to step up to a new level this pre-season when the yellow and navy take on Brisbane Roar in Bathurst on Saturday.
Central Coast Mariners Assistant Coach Phil Moss says the Club-s football staff will be looking for the team to step up to a new level this pre-season when the yellow and navy take on Brisbane Roar in Bathurst on Saturday.
The Mariners travelled to the western NSW motor racing mecca on Friday in preparation for their first pre-season hit-out against a rival Hyundai A-League opponent ahead of the 2013/14 season proper.
Thus far the Mariners have played three friendly fixtures, coming up against their Academy outfit, Spirit FC, and Bankstown City Lions over the past 12 days.
But Moss says the game against Mike Mulvey-s well-prepared Roar side ought to provide the Club-s coaches and players good insight into where the team is currently at.
“We-re very happy with our progress,” Moss said of the team-s pre-season so far. “[But] Brisbane is always going to be a good gauge whether they have played nine games or two, they are one of the competition heavyweights, there-s no doubt about that.”
“It will give us a good benchmark as to where we-re at. If they have played nine games, which we-ve heard that they have, they-ll certainly have a bit more match legs than us. But we are certainly expecting an improved performance from our team.”
“The players have trained the house down this week and played a very good game on Wednesday night against Bankstown with an improved performance, so we are expecting to go up a notch against Brisbane.”
Moss added that the Mariners are pleased to be in Bathurst to take on Roar infront of what-s anticipated to be a bumper pre-season crowd.
“We-re very excited about being in Bathurst,” he said. “As everyone knows we-re a very community minded Club, and we really value the community and their input into what we do.”
“Bathurst is another chance for us to spread the good word of the Mariners, and we-ve got a coaching clinic with the kids on Sunday morning which all of the players and coaching staff are looking forward to.”
“We just hope that everyone from Bathurst gets out, supports the game and creates a great atmosphere for the players on Saturday.”
Moss also praised the Club-s live stream initiative, which will enable fans around the country or indeed the world to get a Saturday afternoon football fix direct from Carrington Park on www.CCMariners.com.au.
“It-s a fantastic initiative by the Club and we-re just thrilled with all the support we-re getting,” he said. “To be able to have our supporters watch the games on live stream during pre-season gives us a buzz.”
Central Coast Mariners vs. Brisbane Roar
Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 7 September, 2013 – Carrington Park, Bathurst
Kick-off: 4:00pm
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter. The hash-tag for the friendly is #CCMvROAR
