The Central Coast Mariners Academy recorded their third win in as many weeks with a 3-1 victory over the Bankstown Berries thanks to goals by Lachlan Wales, Liam O’Dell & Trent Buhagiar in the PS4 NPL 2.
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Lachlan Wales 33’, Liam O’Dell 45’, Trent Buhagiar 46’) v Bankstown Berries 1 (Nicholas Paras 73’)
It’s was Friday night football this week at Valentine Sports Park after the fixture had been re-scheduled from Pluim Park due to unforeseen pitch maintenance.
Ben Cahn’s team started on top when left back Christopher Hurley sent a deep cross to the back of the box that Lachlan Wales half volleyed just wide of goal.
Bankstown Berries had a great chance to go ahead in the 18th minute when the striker found himself one-on-one with Heward-Belle who smartly saved the shot, to then save again seconds later.
It was the Academy who took the lead in the 35th minute when Wales played a smart ball to youngster Cade Mapu who then played the ball back into Wales’ path. Wales made no mistake with the finish, blasting his effort into the top corner.
Bankstown had a chance to head into the break on even terms just before half time when a corner found an unmarked man who sent his effort straight into Heward-Belle’s waiting hands.
It was a set piece that allowed the Mini Mariners to double their lead when Buhagiar delivered a pin point corner that found Liam O’Dell. The skipper headed home and the Mariners were two up at half time.
The Mariners Academy came out of the sheds firing and Nathan Verity’s through ball to Buhagiar drew the keeper off his line, which allowed Buhagiar to chip home for the side’s third goal of the evening.
Academy midfielder Reece Papadimtrios who had been providing Wales with some great balls over the top for most of the night, nearly found himself on the score sheet in 72nd minute when his shot from just outside the box cleared the crossbar.
Bankstown bagged a consolation in the 74th minute when a challenge from Verity resulted in a free kick, just outside the box. Bankstown’s number 10 Nicholas Paras curled his free kick into the bottom corner.
Next week the Cetnral Coast Mariners will head to Fraser Park for an away fixture against Fraser Park FC.
Central Coast Mariners Academy: 20. Thomas Heward-Belle 2. Brian Jamba 3. Reece Papadimitrios 5. Daniel Tuddenham 6. Liam O’Dell (c) 7. Lachlan Wales 10. Ryan Peterson (9. Cooper Buswell) 11. Christopher Hurley 12. Trent Buhagiar 14. Nathan Verity 18. Cade Mapu (8. Jayden Laugwitz 51’)
Bankstown Berries: 40. Chris Becerra 2. Andrew Vitucci 4. Alex Becerra 5. Liam McKenna (c) 6. Peter Dimitropoulos (7. Kyle Ewart 46’) 8. Joel Anscomb 9. Gavin Forbes (19. Dimitri Zakilas 67’) 10. Nicholas Paras 11. Tai Smith 14. James Ralston 15. Ricardo Milano (16. Stephen Stavropoulos 76’).
Earlier results :
- 20s: 3-3 DRAW (Hornery, Buswell, Johnson)
- 18s: 2-1 WIN (Macey, Clarke)
- 16s: 4-0 WIN (Belkadi, Barwick x 2, Caisley)
- 15s : 2-2 DRAW (Buettner, Dominello)
- 14s: 3-0 WIN (Philips, Tapsell, Simmons, Steele)
- 13s : 3-0 WIN (Beatson, Hurley, Wells)
