Central Coast Mariners Academy First Grade Head Coach Jason van Blerk says he’s pleased with his team’s start to the 2014 SUPA IGA NPL 2 season.
Central Coast Mariners Academy First Grade Head Coach Jason van Blerk says he-s pleased with his team-s start to the 2014 SUPA IGA NPL 2 season.
“It-s been a good start to the season. We-re slowly building, we are a younger side and we have some of the NYL boys returning to football after their season finished a few weeks ago. I-m not expecting too much in the first three to four weeks, it-s all about building our fitness and going forward from there,” van Blerk said.
The Mariners claimed all three points for the first time this campaign following a convincing 4-1 away win over Sydney University on Saturday evening.
The score was locked at 1-1 at the break with Patrick Dixon finding the net for Sydney, while Dean Calletti scored his second goal of the campaign for Central Coast.
The visitors started the second stanza brightly and were rewarded with three goals from Steve Whyte, Liam O-Dell and Josh Swadling.
“It was a great performance for the club. All four senior men-s teams recorded wins. For us, it was a great win. We have quite a young team who is still learning. We had a great second half and we built on our performance from the week before. It was a very pleasing performance,” he said.
The Central Coast First Grade boss says he has been impressed by a few of his younger players so far this season, especially some of the Mariners- National Youth League stars.
“Jesse Curran has done well, he-s enjoying it and he played a full game on the weekend. Josh Bingham has been added to the squad and is also doing well. Overall it is just great to see some of the young boys starting to learn against some more experienced players,” he said.
van Blerk says he has set his standards high for the 2014 season and hopes to see the team return to the NSW NPL.
“My goal as a coach is to produce a player that may make it to the Mariners- Hyundai A-League squad … we need to push for promotion,” he concluded.
Central Coast Mariners Academy first grade next face Prospect United in the Waratah Cup on Wednesday night, with kick-off at 8:00pm at Pluim Park, Lisarow.
The senior men’s side will then tackle Parramatta FC in Round 4 of the SUPA IGA NPL 2 at Pluim Park on Saturday 12 April. Kick-off is at 6:30pm.
