A Central Coast Mariners side mixed with academy prospects have earned a 1-0 win over PlayStation 4 NPL 1 outfit, Hakoah Sydney City East in their latest pre-season fixture at Pluim Park thanks to a fifth minute strike by Andrew Hoole.
Central Coast Mariners 1 (5’ Hoole) Hakoah Sydney City East 0
The Run Down
The strike is Hoole’s fourth goal of the Mariners’ pre-season after he bagged a hat-trick against the Central Coast All Stars. Across the Mariners three pre-season matches, Hoole has bagged his four goals in just 150 minutes of football.
On a chilly winter’s night at a packed Pluim Park, the Central Coast Mariners squad was split into three teams across three 30-minute-thirds, allowing Paul Okon to tinker with his squad throughout the match and test a number of combinations.
The match was also the first chance for Mariners fans to see Danny De Silva in action who looked classy during the first 30 minutes of play with a number of impressive touches and telling passes.
The first third was all Mariners, with relentless pressure placed on the Hakoah back four from the get go. Most of the Mariners chances came from the left flank, where the ever-reliable Josh Rose was on hand, going close with a spectacular volley of his own and delivering numerous menacing balls into the box.
Crisp passing and agile player movement had Hakoah on the ropes in the first 30 and the opener took just five minutes when Hoole fired home the opener from close range.
Josh Bingham caused headaches for the Hakoah defensive set up through out the match but was denied by several freak saves in between the visitor’s posts.
The Mariners could only find one goal for their consistent pressure but set the tone where they looked likely to go on to score many more goals in the final two thirds of play.
The second third started as the first finished. Jake McGing went agonisingly close early in the period, only to be denied by another fabulous save.
A lapse in concentration at the back from the Mariners almost cost them the lead when Hakoah pinched the ball but Pearce was on hand to make a sharp save to keep his side a goal up.
The final couple of minutes of the period saw some incredible acrobatics from the Hakoah goal keeper to deny Bingham, specifically his header which looked certain to hit the net but the keeper scrambled across the goal to make a miraculous save and keep the score at 1-0.
The final third was a much closer affair, with many of the Mariners first grade players replaced by academy players and trialists who maintained the impressive passing game and dominance in possession. The passing and intensity from the Mariners looked certain to breakthrough a tiring Hakoah but as the game reached its finale, chances became slim at either end,
Neither side were able to convert in the closing stages and the match ended in a 1-0 win to the Mariners.
Goal
5’ HOOLE GOAL: Josh Rose started the goal with a lurching run down the left flank, his pass was pin point to Hoole who broke into the box and executed a classy finish to score the winner in the opening five minutes.
Central Coast Mariners First Third: Adam PEARCE (gk), Alan BARO, Storm ROUX, Kye ROWLES, Josh ROSE, Liam ROSE, Jake McGING, Andrew HOOLE, Daniel De SILVA, Connor PAIN, Josh BINGHAM
Central Coast Mariners Second Third: Adam PEARCE (gk), Jake McGING, Alan BARO, Antony GOLEC, Josh ROSE, Liam ROSE, Adam BERRY, Kwabena APPIAH, Andrew HOOLE, Connor PAIN, Josh BINGHAM
Central Coast Mariners Final Third: Adam PEARCE (gk) (academy), Aleksander STOJANOVSKI (trialist), Michael GLASSOCK (academy), Antony GOLEC, Steve WHYTE (academy), Adam BERRY, James ENTICKNAP (academy), Lachlan WALES (academy), Kwabena APPIAH, Peter KEKERIS (academy), Duncan STEWART
Hakoah Sydney City East: Michael FIGUERIA (gk), Cameron DRAPER, Aleksander LEKOSKI, Andre DE JONG, Dean BEREVESKOS, Oliver GREEN, Harry JONES, Steven KATSIONIS, Joshua ORCHARD, Connor SHADDOCK, Michael KOUTA
SUBSTITUTES: Marley BEETSON, Jordan MAKRIDOPOULOS, Connor ELDRIDGE, Arwin ADINIATO, Andrew BIVIANO, Julian RINALDI, Dau AKOL, Nathan ROBERTS, Finley HAYHURST
Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Central Coast Mariners vs. Hakoah Sydney City East
