The Central Coast Mariners ended their luckless run in the National Youth League (NYL) with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Melbourne Victory at Bob Jane Stadium yesterday, with Hyundai A-League star Nik Mrdja slotting the match opener for the visitors.
The Central Coast Mariners ended their luckless run in the National Youth League (NYL) with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Melbourne Victory at Bob Jane Stadium yesterday, with Hyundai A-League star Nik Mrdja slotting the match opener for the visitors.
Mrdja-s first half contribution saw the Mariners to the break boasting a one goal advantage, before Milos Lujic squared the ledger for the visitors shortly after half time.
Having suffered three straight losses in recent weeks, including a pair of heavy home defeats to the Newcastle Jets and Adelaide United, yesterday-s result reflected a positive turnaround for the Mariners young guns.
The Mariners starting line up featured Hyundai A-League talents David D-Apuzzo, Andre Gumprecht, Mrdja, Andrew Redmayne and Chris Tadrosse and each were instrumental in securing the visitors their fourth point of the campaign.
The result was an ultimately heartening outcome for the Mariners; particularly given they had the Hyundai A-League experience of Leigh Broxham, Carlos Hernandez, Mitchell Langerak, Steve Pantelidis and Sebastian Ryall to contend with at varying stages.
“We-ll take a lot from this result – we-ve had a tough few weeks and to bounce back the way that we did is credit to the playing group,” said Mariners Youth Development Co-ordinator Damien Brown after the match.
“We generally performed a lot better, the boys knew that last week-s result wasn-t acceptable and they approached this game with the right attitude and were probably unlucky not to come away with all three points in the end.
“Putting the result into perspective though, yesterday was a step in the right direction but there is still a lot for us to improve upon in the coming weeks and months.”
The Mariners- National Youth League campaign continues away to the Perth Glory on Saturday, 29 November with a curtain raiser fixture to the Hyundai A-League clash between the two clubs later that day. Kick off is at 5.15pm AEDT.
The Mariners NYL season returns to the Central Coast on Saturday, 7 December, when the Mariners host the Queensland Roar at Lisarow-s Pluim Park. Kick off is at 4pm and entry to this match is free.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 30. Andrew Redmayne (gk), 2. Steven TIbbetts (12. Scott Wright 60-), 3. Chris Tadrosse, 5. Nathan Sherlock, 6. Andre Gumprecht, 7. Matthew Lewis, 8. David D-Apuzzo, 9. Brady Smith, 13. Laurence Braude, 16. Nik Mrdja (11. Darko Vidovic 59-), 17. Sean Mitchell (10. Glen Trifiro 56-)
Yellow Cards Vidovic 68-
Red Cards None
Goals Mrdja 42-
Melbourne Victory 1. Mitchell Langerak (gk), 2. Sebastian Ryall, 3. Steve Pantelidis, 4. Matthew Foschini, 5. Fabio Di Lizia, 6. Cameron Drake, 9. Mathew Theodore, 10. Milos Lujic, 11. Dmitri Hatzimouratis (7. Aziz Behich 59-), 12. Leigh Broxham (8. Stephen Hatzikostas 61-), 14. Carlos Hernandez (15. Mifit Bojku 46-)
Unused Subs 20. Mijo Marinovic (gk)
Yellow Cards Di Lizia 54-, Lujic 67-
Red Cards None
Goals Lujic 56-
Referee Lucien Lavedure
