The Central Coast Mariners secured a dominant 7-1 victory over North Shore Mariners at Pluim Park on Wednesday with trialist John Roberts securing a second half hattrick.
Central Coast Mariners 7 (Jordan Murray 20’, 37’, Roberts 58’, 72’, 82’ McGlinchey 71’, 81’) def. North Shore Mariners 1 (Saric 60’)
The run down
It was a tight affair during the early stages of the first half with very few chances being created. The Central Coast were dominant in possession but were unable to convert that into opportunities in front of goal.
Joshua Nisbet was making the most of his start and impressed in the middle, being the focal point of the Central Coast’s build up play and they took the lead in the 20th minute when Jordan Murray headed home a McGlinchey corner.
The home side were hungry for more and a powerful shot from Murray was spilled by the North Shore keeper, but the danger was able to be cleared and Murray finally got his second after a well-placed shot buried in the bottom corner.
The second half began slowly too as both sides made several substitutions, but the Coast kept up the pressure and were able to add a third as trialist John Roberts tapped the ball in from close range. The away side were quick to reply though, and Daniel Saric pulled one back with a tidy finish in the bottom corner.
The Coast started to click in to gear and were finding space all over the park. McGlinchey grabbed a goal for himself, finding the top corner from the edge of the area and the home side quickly added a fifth when Roberts secured his brace after a mistake at the back from North Shore.
It didn’t take long for the Coast to grab a sixth goal as McGlinchey was found unmarked at the far post from a corner and a minute late Roberts secured his hattrick with another calm close range finish.
The game finished as the Central Coast secured a dominant pre-season win at Pluim Park ahead of next week’s FFA Cup Semi Final against Adelaide United.
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GOALS:
20’ MURRAY (1-0): A whipped delivery by Michael McGlinchey was headed home by Jordan Murray.
37’ MURRAY (2-0): The ball fell perfectly to Jordan Murray who neatly put the ball in the bottom corner.
58’ ROBERTS (T) (3-0): A header by McGlinchey was parried into the path of Roberts who made no mistake from right in front.
60’ SARIC (3-1): North Shore capitalised on a backline that was slow to react and Daniel Saric converted from close range.
71’ MCGLINCHEY (4-1): McGlinchey picked up the ball outside the area and smashed the ball into the top corner.
72’ ROBERTS (T) (5-1): A mistake at the back allowe Roberts in on goal and the trialist added a fifth to the scoreboard.
81’ MCGLINCHEY (6-1): A scramble in the box from a Shabow corner saw the ball fall to an unmarked McGlinchey at the far post.
82’ ROBERTS (T) (7-1): Roberts secured his hattrick, coolly slotting his shot past the North Shore keeper.
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 2. Ziggy GORDON (C), 3. Jack CLISBY, 5. Brandon LUNDY (T), 8. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9. Jordan MURRAY, 14. Abraham MAJOK, 15. Kye ROWLES, 22. Jacob MELLING, 23. Mario SHABOW, 26. Joshua NISBET
Substitutes: 12. Adam PEARCE (GK), 7. Milan DURIC, 10. Thomas OAR, 11. Daniel DESILVA, 16. Dylan FOX, 17. Samuel SILVERA, 29. John ROBERTS (T), 30. Dillon JAKUPI (T)
North Shore Mariners: 1. Ryan WOOD, 2. Rainer SMAHEL, 6. Chris LINDSAY, 7. Hugo FORLICO, 8. Brian JAMBA, 12. Braden CHENG, 14. Jesse PIRIZ, 18. Mitchell SMITH, 19. Daniel SARIC, 25. Tristan VANRHOON, 31. Emmanuel PETERS
Substitutes: 21. Joel TINKER (GK), 11. Nathan SEPAROVIC, 15. Josh MBAKWE, 23. Damir PRODANOVIC, 24. Panagiotis NIKAS, 28. James SCOTT, 37. Nathan FELSHER, 39. Kash STELIO-PRASAD
