Despite a hat-trick to Duncan Stewart and a goal to Maki Petratos the Hills Brumbies have come from behind to steal three points from the Central Coast Mariners Academy.
Hills Brumbies 5 (Toro Suazo, Rayner, Cejka x 2 & Mitchell) Central Coast Mariners Academy 4 (Stewart x 3 & Petratos)
Sunday saw our Academy boys away from home to face the newly promoted Hills Brumbies at Lilys Football Centre.
The Mariners came out of the box fast and capitalised on their early dominance in the 7th minute. Skilful winger Lachlan Wales made a dashing run into the box and played in form striker Duncan Stewart with a perfect cross. Stewart guided the ball into the back of the net to send the Academy ahead in the opening stages.
The Mariners thought they were going to double their lead just a minute later when Stewart found his way through the Brumbies defence. Just as the sharpshooter was about to pull the trigger, a Hills defender made a great last ditched tackle to keep his side in it early on.
Hills equalised in the 15th minute when their winger sent a cross low and hard across the face of goal where Matias Toro Suazo was waiting to tap home and equalise 1-1.
Just as the game started to settle and both teams looked to keep possession, the Mariners took the lead for the second time. In similar fashion to their first goal, Wales found Stewart again who scored his second for the day, this time using his head from the set piece.
The Mariners looked destined to go into half time 2-1 up but Brumbies’ Nathan Rayner had other ideas, when he was met at the back post with a lofted cross, sending his header past Adam Pearce to lock the scores at 2-2 at half time.
Striker Duncan Stewart completed his hat trick early on in the second half when midfielder Charles William found the attacker with a pin point through ball. A composed Stewart dribbled around the Hills’ keeper to send the Academy ahead 3-2 in the 47th minute.
But, hat trick hero Stewart wasn’t finished yet, as he turned provider in the 71st minute when he played a ball into the box to second half substitute Maki Petratos. Petratos hit his shot first time across his body and neatly finished the ball into the bottom corner making the score 4-2 in favour of the Academy.
It was end to end action for most of the game, and less then a minute after Petratos sent the Academy ahead, Hills made their way back into the game when Peter Cejka scored his first of the day in the 72nd minute.
With 10 minutes to go the home team equalised when Cejka bagged his brace, with a follow up from close range.
The Mariners Academy pushed hard for a winner but couldn’t quite seal the deal, as Hills sent men forward and scored the winner in the 88th minute. Brumbies mounted pressure on the young Academy side and made their way through in on goal, just before stoppage time. Sean Mitchell fired past a full stretched Adam Pearce to send Hills ahead for the first time in the match.
Earlier results
- 18s WON 10-3 (Cahill x 5, Sutherland, Nisbet, Bradder, Lozada & own goal
- 20s DREW 3-3 (Lee x 2 & Miccio)
The Mariners Academy are back in action next weekend vs Northern Tigers on Saturday at Valentine Sports Park. Kick off times are:
- 18s: 9 am
- 20s: 11 am
- First Grade: 1 pm
Hills Brumbies: 1. J. Stancic, 3. N. Pradenas Meza, 6 B. Robertson, 7. Wade Giovenali, 9. Sean Mitchell, 10. Jordan Parfait, 11. Dane Merrin (C), 14. V. Anyimba, 15. Matias Toro Suazo, 16. Greg Giovenali, 17. B. Hoyer, 19. G. Kelshaw, 24. N. Rayner, 34. J. Franich, 35. M. Glenfield, 91. Peter Cejka.
Coach: Dan Sheppard
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Adam Pearce, 2. Shelford Dais, 5. Charles William, 6. James Enticknap, 7. Lachlan Wales, 8. Thomas Lyons, 9. Brenton Fox, 10. Duncan Stewart, 11. Peter Kekeris, 14. Sean Pratt, 15. Yerasimakis Petratos, 16. Gianni Stensness, 18. Steve Whyte.
Coach: Ben Cahn
