Central Coast Mariners won a record sixth consecutive F3 Derby, coming from a goal down to win 2-1 on Friday evening at Unite Round.
The win sees history repeat itself, with the Mariners getting their first win in Round Five, against the Jets, just as we did almost a year ago to the day at the start of our 23/24 season.
Brian Kaltak’s towering header followed by an own goal from Aleksandar Šušnjar completed a comeback win for the Mariners after Thomas Aquilina put the Jets ahead from close range.
Line-Up
Jacko made three changes from the side that lost to Wellington before the international break, with Alou Kuol, Storm Roux and Bailey Brandtman started.
Starting XI: Peraic-Cullen (GK), Kaltak (C), McCalmont, Kuol, Doka, Mauragis, Roux, Steele, Kuzevski, Paull, Brandtman.
Substitutions:
58′ ON: Ngor, Edmondson OFF: Kuzevski, Brandtman
78′ ON: Feijao OFF: Roux
85′ ON: Wilson OFF: Kuol
90′ ON: Herrington OFF: Wilson
Unused subs: Pavlesic (GK), Eames.
First Half
The Mariners had the better of the first half chances, opening the Newcastle defence up for the first time on 12 minutes but Harry Steele was denied a derby goal by a good save from Ryan Scott.
There was a glorious chance on 25 minutes for Kuol, Alfie McCalmont splitting the defence with a brilliant pass but our number nine couldn’t keep his shot down.
Newcastle’s best sight of goal came on 40 minutes when Eli Adams played a neat one-two and advanced into the Mariners box, only to be denied by Kaltak who made an exceptional last-ditch tackle.
Second half
Newcastle had the better of the early second-half chances but both fell to the wrong man as right-back Dane Ingham missed two big headed opportunites, but the Jets did make the breakthrough on 63 minutes, Aquilina finishing from point-blank range.
There would be an immediate response from the Mariners and a captain’s goal for Brian Kaltak, just his fifth professional goal as he rose above the Newcastle defence as well as Ryan Scott to head home Harry Steele’s cross and pull the Mariners level just three minutes after going behind.
The Mariners regained control from there, Mikael Doka attempted an audacious overhead kick which went over the bar, before Alfie McCalmont also fired over after a short corner.
The pressure paid on 74 minutes when Lucas Mauragis’ wicked delivery could only be turned into his own goal by Šušnjar.
Newcastle threw everything at the Mariners to find an equaliser but couldn’t break down a resolute defence, Ingham wasting another opportunity on 82 minutes before substitute Wellissol saw a strike heroically blocked by Steele.
The Mariners held out for a timely first win of the season and a record sixth straight derby success, climbing to eighth in the table and leapfrogging our F3 rivals in the process.
⏭ Next up at Our Paradise
Our attention now turns to back-to-back ACLE fixtures, as the team travel to Japan to take on J1 League leaders Vissel Kobe, before hosting Yokahama F. Marinos on December 3rd.
The next Mariners action at Our Paradise is on November 30th as our Ninja A-League team takes on Canberra United.
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