Central Coast Mariners Academy picked up an important 3-0 win against NSW Spirit in the NPL NSW Men’s competition on Saturday at Pluim Park.

The opening 10 minutes were closely contested as both sides had chances to open the scoring, but the game would tilt in the Mariners’ favour on 30 minutes when Spirit were reduced to 10 men.

Referee Sam Kelly deemed Kyle Shaw to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and showed the Spirit defender a straight red card. Mariners threatened to open the scoring before half time but would have to wait until the hour mark for the floodgates to open.

Nico Duarte netted his second goal in three games since returning from injury, side-footing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after Harry Menham weaved his way into the box and laid the ball off.

The home pressure continued, Spirit keeper Christopher Marques was kept busy, gathering Donatien Niyonkuru’s cross before saving well from Bailey Brandtman, after a slaloming run through the Spirit defence from the Mariners number 37.

Lucas Scicluna then blasted over from range for the Mariners before Spirit mustered their best chance of the second half, but Jayden Tran could only head over and the Mariners punished, striking a second just minutes later.

Menham was involved in the creation again, lofting the ball into the box, Niyonkuru fired it back across goal and the ball found the back of the net via Arthur De Lima’s knee, he might not have known too much about it but the Mariners forward was in the right place at the right time to provide a crucial touch.

The Mariners wrapped the game up on 85 minutes, Menham this time providing the finishing touch, arriving at the back post after some superb work from Brandtman who claimed a fabulous assist.

Menham may have been the obvious Man of the Match; boasting a goal, an assist and a clean sheet, but another impressive performer was opposite full-back Sasha Kuzevski who was making his first start after a lengthy and tortuous recovery from injury.

Kuzevski made the NPL NSW Men’s Team of the Week alongside De Lima, and he spoke to Football NSW after the game:

MEN'S TEAM OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to our TOTW for Round 22, featuring players from @SydUtd58FC, @CCMariners, @apialeichhardt, @WollGongWOLVES, @RockdaleIlinden, St George City, @marconi_sfc and @SydneyOlympicFC!#NPLNSW #NPLMNSW pic.twitter.com/3rm5V7kGHy
— NPL New South Wales (@NPLNSW) July 1, 2024

“It’s been a long journey for myself with the ups and downs, but I am super blessed and grateful for the club for helping me get back and leading this team.” Kuzevski said.

“It’s a young group, there’s loads of talent in this team and I think just a little bit of guidance and leadership is going to bring more results like tonight.

“We deserve to stay in the league. The quality is there, and with a massive game on Wednesday, it’s another opportunity to show how talented this young group is.”

Lucas Vilela’s young side are back at Pluim Park on Wednesday evening, 8pm kick-off against APIA Leichhardt as they look to pick up a third victory in five games.