After a disappointing loss to Mt Druitt last week, the Central Coast Mariners were looking to bounce back to winning ways as they faced the Northern Tigers at Pluim Park, Lisarow on Sunday afternoon.
And bounce back they did, with the Academy claiming a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Ryan Peterson, Trent Buhagiar and Lachlan Wales.
The Academy had the first chance in the 14th minute when Trent Buhagiar found himself on the by-line, he then cut the ball across the face of goal to Adam Berry. Berry made connection but not enough, seeing his shot go just wide of the Northern Tigers goal. The Tigers then had a great chance to take the lead in the 20th minute when Northern Tigers front man Liam McConaghy found himself in some space on top of the box. McConaghy’s shot went wide of a diving Adam Pearce and the Academy’s goal.
Trent Buhagiar nearly sent the Academy ahead in the 39th minute when he utilised his pace and went past the Tigers defence to be 1 v 1 with their keeper, but despite his great run, Buhagiar couldn’t quite find the target to send the home side to the break with a lead. Despite some good chances and a good amount of possession, both sides went into half time on level terms at 0-0.
The first real chance of the second half fell to winger Lachlan Wales. Wales found himself inside the edge of the 18 yard box, he then pulled the trigger but it was brilliantly saved by Tigers keeper Matt Nemes.
The Academy went ahead from the spot in the 66th minute when Lachlan Wales was deemed to be fouled inside the area. Ryan Peterson made no mistake from the spot sending Nemes the wrong way, and his shot into the back of the net. Things went from bad to worse in the 70th minute for the Northern Tigers when Braden Chang was shown a second yellow for descent towards the referee.
The Academy went two goals ahead in the 77th minute when an excellent through ball from Ryan Peterson found Brian Jamba on the right wing. Jamba then crossed his ball to the oncoming Buhagiar who made no mistake in finishing from close range.
CCMA thought they were three goals ahead in the 80th minute when Lachlan Wales finished 1 on 1 past the Tigers keeper, only for the goal to be disallowed for a handball in lead up play. They did go up 3-0 in the 86th minute however, via a Lachlan Wales tap in after substitute Cooper Buswell’s shot was blocked by Nemes.
Northern Tigers scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute when substitute Max Glanville was on the end of a cross sending it past a full stretched Adam Pearce.
Central Coast Mariners Academy 3 (Ryan Peterson (pen), Trent Buhagiar, Lachlan Wales) Northern Tigers 1 (Max Glanville)
Central Coast Mariners Academy
Adam Berry, Trent Buhagair, Shelford Dais, Joshua Forbes, Max Foster, Christopher Hurley, Brian Jamba, Cade Mapu, Jack Omally ( GK ), Reece Papadimitrios ( c ), Adam Pearce ( GK ), Ryan Peterson, Lachlan Wales, Steve Whyte, Cooper Buswell, Ethan Hall
Northern Tigers
Arima Jun, Alexander Brown, Braden Chang, Jamie Craig, Paul Davies, Lucas Dawson, Russell Farrell, Max Glanville, Joel Hardwick, Diren Kartal, Riley Keayes, Julian Lim, Liam Mcconaghy, Matt Nemes, Mitchell Smith, Steven Baveos
NEXT MATCH
The Central Coast Mariners Academy play the Bankstown City Lions FC next Saturday at Jensen Park, kick off times :
U18’s – 3:00pm
U20’s – 5:00pm
First grade – 7:00pm
Earlier results v Northern Tigers FC:
- U18: lost 1-2 (Andrews)
- U20: lost 2-3 (Laugwitz, Kekeris)
Youth Academy – v APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC:
- U16: won 3-2 (Brady, Cahill, Hambrook)
- U15: draw 0-0
- U14: won 4-1
- U13: lost 1-2 (Graham)
Women’s Academy – v Sydney Olympic FC:
- NPL2: lost 1-3
- U17: won 2-0
- U15: draw 0-0
- U13: lost 1-4 (Bax)
