CENTRAL Coast Mariners Academy Grade 16 Boys team, under the direction of Coach Steve Finch, are proving that they are the team to beat in season 2012 of the Football NSW Boys Super Youth League.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners Academy Grade 16 Boys team, under the direction of Coach Steve Finch, are proving that they are the team to beat in season 2012 of the Football NSW Boys Super Youth League.
As the season nears the half way mark the Grade 16 Academy team have maintained an unbeaten record for the year. The team-s impressive results have seen them accomplish a tally of nine wins and one draw. Finch-s outfit sits top of the table with 28 points, eight points clear of Sydney University.
This Saturday will see the two top teams play each other at Sydney Uni-s home ground. Although home ground advantage may play a minor role for Sydney Uni on the weekend, the Academy boys have shown from recent performances that they play well both at home and on the road with a convincing 3-0 win against Western NSW Mariners in Bathurst just a fortnight ago.
One of the most impressive statistics to come from the 16s team is their strength in defence, with the side maintaining seven clean sheets from ten games so far. The most any team has scored against them this year is just the one goal in three of their games leaving them with an impressive goal difference of +16.
The team-s goalkeeper, Jacob Wesson, has spent the season training under his idols and mentors including Mariners Hyundai A-League Goalkeeper Coach John Crawley, and custodians Mathew Ryan and Justin Pasfield. Wesson has moved up through the local football ranks after starting his football with the Under 6 Southern Ettalong United side. From Under 11s, Jacob has taken on the roll as keeper in various Central Coast Representative teams. Jacob-s ambition is to move through to the Club-s National Youth League team and into the professional ranks.
Saturday-s game will be played at the recently redeveloped Hensley Athletic Field on a synthetic surface that is somewhat foreign to the local Coast players. However, the Coast teams have shown that they can adapt to any conditions and welcome that the games will go ahead on the synthetic surface while rain may threaten to close other playing fields. Kick off for the Grade 16 Boys is 1.15pm.
