Matt Simon’s first half strike was not enough to silence the Newcastle Jets in the 45th #F3Derby, where the away side scored twice in the second half to claim all three points.
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Simon 36’) Newcastle Jets 2 (Hoffman 66’ & Vargas 82’)
The run down
It was a lively start from the Mariners who came flying out of the blocks. Matty Millar continued his impressive form as he marauded through the Jets’ midfield again and again.
Pressure from the Yellow and Navy restricted the visitors to limited possession and as the half continued it started to feel more and more like the #F3Derby with big tackles flying in from both teams.
Adam Pearce was forced to make a great save that denied Petratos from a free kick.
RECAP | Nice save by Adam Pearce to deny the Petratos free-kick! ?? @FOXSportsAUS #F3Derby #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/uICBsccd3b
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) December 23, 2018
Then, as they did against Sydney FC, Matt Simon and Matt Millar combined to deliver the game’s opening goal. Millar down the right, Simon at the back post to head home.
Momentum stayed with the Mariners and Hoole then stepped up with a curling free kick which forced Moss to parry it away. Tempers flared before the break as aggression rose in the #F3Derby but a solid half by the Mariners saw the Yellow and Navy go into the break with a one goal lead.
The second half saw the Jets chase the game. As the visitors threw more players forward, it allowed the Mariners to create a couple of counter attacking opportunities most notably a chance that fell to Connor Pain who couldn’t convert his one on one opportunity.
Then, it was a Jair corner that was headed home by Hoffman that put the Jets equal. The dangerous set pieces followed and a delivery by Petratos was cleared off the line. Shortly after, Vargas fired home a precision ball by Shepard which proved to be the match winner in the 82nd minute.
The Mariners’ focus now turns to their annual New Year’s Eve fixture against Perth Glory at Central Coast Stadium.
RECAP ? @FOXFOOTBALL | Matty Millar has caused havoc all afternoon on that right flank. He finds space, and picks out Matty Simon perfectly on the back post. Simon heads home! #F3Derby #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/mn1DZhv42S
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) December 23, 2018
GOALS:
36’ SIMON GOAL (1-0): A superb one-two between Simon and Millar sees Millar’s cross converted by the captain. Millar broke down the right and looped the ball perfectly to Simon on the back post.
66’ HOFFMAN GOAL (1-1): A Jair corner is put away by a leaping Hoffman
82’ VARGAS GOAL (1-2): A chipped through ball is controlled and converted by Vargas.
Mulvey in the media
CLICK HERE to view Mike Mulvey’s full press conference
“They gave everything. It’s just getting over the line isn’t it. The first half I thought was a good tussle, we got on the front foot, pressured them, got a good goal, a deserved lead and at half time the message coming back from the lads was a confident feeling and we could go on to win this game. The critical point of the game was the second goal which we didn’t get, we had a good opportunity but their first goal from the corner sapped the energy from the stadium.
“I thought the atmosphere was really good today, they appreciated what the boys were doing but that nervousness creeps from the field into the terraces and you could see that when Newcastle scored, they had their heads and tails up. We’re facing a lack of composure in certain areas particularly when we could take the sting out of the game. In the end, we lost and like you say how do we resurrect ourselves.
“In key moments we were found out, we took an eye off the ball, not focused in that moment. In those moments when the ball is not in play it is time to refocus and in those key moments we are not refocusing, and we are not ready. For the corner for example, the ball is out of play, corner, organise and refocus and we didn’t do that. We didn’t pick up the guy that scored and it’s not resilience, its key moments in the game that costs us.
“You have to look at the performance today, the players don’t need lifting in terms of performance perspective. If you look at the table, which everyone has the right to do within the game, they look at us and go “hapless Mariners, write off the season” but we are not going to do that, if we held on to win that today, we are one point away from Brisbane. It’s a cruel game at times and we were dealt a cruel blow and I’m not blaming anyone else besides ourselves. We will wear it; the players are man enough to be able to wear it and we’ve got to fix it and that’s the main thing,” Mulvey said.
Central Coast Mariners: 12. Adam PEARCE (GK), 15. Kye ROWLES, 5. Antony GOLEC, 3. Jack CLISBY, 18. Matthew MILLAR, 8. Michael McGLINCHEY, 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 23. Mario SHABOW (25. Jordan MURRAY 67’), 7. Andrew HOOLE (22. Jacob MELLING 81’), 11. Connor PAIN (16. Josh MACDONALD 73’), 19. Matthew SIMON (c)
Substitutes not used: 24. Joe GAUCI (GK) & 4. Jake McGING
Yellow cards: McGLINCHEY 34’, SHABOW 45’, PAIN 45’, ROWLES 49’
Newcastle Jets: 1. Glen MOSS (GK), 3. Jason HOFFMAN, 4. Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Dimitri PETRATOS, 8. JAIR (14. Kaine SHEPPARD 72’), 9. Roy O’DONOVAN (23. Matt RIDENTON 85’), 10. Ronald VARGAS (32. Angus THURGATE 90’), 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 44. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Substitutes not used: 20. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 13. Ivan VUJICA
Yellow cards: HOFFMAN 42’, MOSS 45’, BOOGAARD 69’
Sunday, 23 December 2018
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Crowd: 8923
Central Coast Mariners vs. Newcastle Jets
