Central Coast Mariners Women fell to a 2-1 defeat against high-flying Perth Glory, in the Liberty A-League on New Years Eve.
Despite the result, it was a performance that Emily Husband could be proud of, as the girls gave everything until the very end.
Not the result we were after yesterday afternoon, but proud of the effort and performance! 👊
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 1, 2024
Thank you to the 5,130 members of the Mariners Family who supported us, see you all next Sunday when we face Sydney FC! 🌴
🎟: https://t.co/gzvULnRfMu#CCMFC #BeOurMate pic.twitter.com/6zMoceoPrN
In-form striker Millie Farrow netted a brace for the Glory, with Rola Badawiya again on target at Our Paradise, her third goal at home this season.
It wasn’t the start the Mariners were looking for though as Perth took the lead in the sixth minute, Farrow the beneficiary of a momentary lapse in our defence to score her fifth of the season.
The Mariners responded brilliantly though and went on to dominate large parts, peppering the Perth goal with 22 shots, 11 of those on target, throughout the game, but they found Glory stopper Morgan Aquino in inspired form.
Aquino prevented an equaliser with fairly routine first half stops from Bianca Galic, Badawiya and Izzy Gomez, before pulling off a stunning acrobatic save just before the break from Faye Bryson’s long-range effort.
The Mariners kept that same attacking momentum when they came out in the second half, but couldn’t find a way past Aquino.
The 22-year-old stopper first kept out Galic again, before making another flying save from Bryson as her goal was under siege in the opening stages of the second half.
The Mariners finally managed to put the ball in the back of the net on 56 minutes as Badawiya bundled home after a scramble in the box, but the offside flag was raised to keep the scoreline at 0-1.
On 66 minutes, the hosts were dealt a real blow as Farrow headed in her sixth goal in her last five games, completely against the run of play to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
The Mariners responded quickly though, finally finding a way past Aquino as Badawiya smashed home on 69 minutes.
That is one filthy strike 😮💨🔥
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) December 31, 2023
Rola Badawiya fires in this incredible goal to half the deficit for Central Coast Mariners 🤩
📺 Catch the action live on 10 Play #CCMvPER #ALW pic.twitter.com/FNeAwfV7yX
Wave after wave of Mariners attacks continued from there as they piled pressure on the Perth box right up to the final whistle, but they just couldn’t find an equaliser.
The Glory held on for the win that takes them back to within three points off top-of-the-table Melbourne City.
Mariners don’t have to wait too long as they look to return to winning ways in the Liberty A-League, they are back at Our Paradise on Sunday (7th January), as they welcome Sydney FC. Get your tickets now if you haven’t already, via the link below!
