The Central Coast Mariners promised an improved performance to their Members and supporters ahead of the match that means the most to them and duly delivered a famous 1-0 triumph over northern rivals the Newcastle Jets at Bluetongue Stadium this evening.
The Central Coast Mariners promised an improved performance to their Members and supporters ahead of the match that means the most to them and duly delivered a famous 1-0 triumph over northern rivals the Newcastle Jets at Bluetongue Stadium this evening.
Season four newcomer Dylan Macallister celebrated his first start in the Hyundai A-League with the type of goal that will make the former Australian youth international an instant favourite on the Central Coast – his third strike of the campaign enough to secure the Mariners all three points.
Dealt a telling blow just hours before kick with news of Mile Jedinak-s withdrawal due to a groin strain, the Mariners were forced into an unwelcome reshuffle that saw three new faces introduced to a line up that suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Wellington Phoenix five days earlier.
The Mariners responded with a gamble that paid handsome dividends, with the three strikers ultimately selected up front proving to be the cornerstone of an attacking and daring attitude to a derby that paralleled those of the yesteryear in terms of drama, passion and football quality.
After enduring the low point of their Hyundai A-League season five days earlier, the Mariners perhaps delivered their high point this evening in front of 10,710 spectators predominantly clad in yellow and certainly enthralled by Australia-s most fervent football rivalry.
“Last week was a bad day at the office, we forgot about it and we-ll move on, with the short turnaround and playing against the Jets, it was the best thing that could have happened to us,” said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna after the match.
“Tonight was only our second clean sheet, it was a good, solid performance at home and this week will be a great week at training looking ahead to the Sydney game.”
The eighteenth competitive meeting between the Hyundai A-League-s fiercest rivals began as Mariners Members and supporters have come to expect and, shortly after the half-hour mark, as they had hoped.
Macallister-s match opener was also his first goal for the yellow and navy at Bluetongue Stadium – what a goal it was.
Having received a short pass from strike partner Matt Simon, Macallister danced around a trio of Jets defenders before poking home from close range with a finish that was made to look far simpler than it should have.
Indeed, Macallister-s reward was no less than he deserved for his impressive start to what was his first starting appearance in the Hyundai A-League.
Alongside Sasho Petrovski and Simon in a three-pronged frontline, Macallister was at his industrious best throughout the match in perfect complement to his fellow strike force livewires.
Equally impressive throughout the first half and again in the second was the Mariners- defensive line up, which included giant man marker Paul O-Grady from the opening whistle for the first time in season four.
The man mountain was among the Mariners- best on field over the course of ninety exhausting minutes, not only in the air as was to be expected, but as a vital communicator and distributor from the last line.
Neither side could claim to have totally dominated either half and, as such, the Bluetongue Stadium gallery was treated to a derby brimming with endeavour and enterprise, and, most importantly for the vocal Bluetongue Stadium audience, three points for the home side.
“We knew that they would change in the second half and we knew what our changes would be to combat that and the boys listened exactly how we wanted,” said McKinna.
“Having three strikers on the park worked tonight, as it did against Adelaide, we did it against Wellington last week and it didn-t work, but three strikers is something that we-ll have a look at further and work on.”
The Mariners- Hyundai A-League campaign continues at the Sydney Football Stadium home of southern rivals Sydney FC on Saturday, 1 November. Kick off is at 7pm.
The Mariners will return to their Bluetongue Stadium home on Saturday, 15 November, when they host AFC Champions League finalists Adelaide United. Kick off is at 7.30pm.
Tickets for this match are on sale from Ticketek outlets, from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 20. Danny Vukovic (gk), 4. Pedj Bojic, 5. Bradley Porter, 7. John Hutchinson, 10. Adrian Caceres (2. Andre Gumprecht 81-), 11. Dylan Macallister, 13. Paul O-Grady, 17. Matthew Osman, 18. Alex Wilkinson, 19. Matt Simon (9. Nik Mrdja 61-), 22. Sasho Petrovski (6. David D-Apuzzo 90-+1)
Unused Subs 1. Matthew Nash (gk)
Yellow Cards Wilkinson 56-, O-Grady 86-
Red Cards None
Goals Macallister 33-
Newcastle Jets 1. Ante Covic (gk), 2. Adam Griffiths, 3. Jade North, 6. Jesper Hakansson (13. Adam D-Apuzzo 51-), 8. Matt Thompson (25. Daniel Piorkowski 81-), 9. Joel Griffiths, 10. Jin-Hyung Song, 11. Tarek Elrich, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 23. Edmundo Zura, 26. Mark Milligan (7. Kaz Patafta 70-)
Unused Subs 20. Ben Kennedy (gk)
Yellow Cards Hakansson 38-, North 63-
Red Cards None
Goals None
Referee Matthew Breeze
Crowd 10,710
