Central Coast Mariners have the opportunity to secure the club’s second F3 Derby Trophy of the season, as they face Newcastle Jets in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday, 6pm kick-off at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Mark Jackson’s and the squad are looking to follow Emily Husband’s Liberty A-League team who lifted the inaugural Women’s F3 Derby Trophy in January thanks to a 2-0 win.
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆! 💛💙#CCMFC #F3Derby #BeOurMate pic.twitter.com/uUoLjMxY3l
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 28, 2024
Jackson’s side also have the ambition of going top of the Isuzu UTE A-League, after closing the gap to Wellington to three points last weekend with a 1-0 win against Melbourne Victory, a win in Newcastle would see us go top, should the Nix lose to Adelaide.
🔀 Team news
It’s two in, two out for Jackson who welcomes back Jacob Farrell and Christian Theoharous back from their one-game suspensions. However, he loses Ronald Barcellos (red card) and Alou Kuol (fifth yellow card) for one match, after the Melbourne Victory win.
Mark Jackson and Emily Husband have named their squads for Saturday's F3 Derby and Sunday's Pink Round! 📋
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 1, 2024
Sunday tickets 🎟: https://t.co/Ah6nvzZRBU#CCMFC #BeOurMate pic.twitter.com/cAGVRyn2gj
⏮ Previous Meeting
Jackson’s previous and only F3 Derby experience brings fond memories, as our Football Manager secured his first Isuzu UTE A-League three points when the two met in November.
The team won 3-1 thanks to goals from Storm Roux, Will Wilson and Jing Reec, putting an end to a four game losing streak at the start of the season and that win would be the springboard of an incredible 14-game unbeaten run that lasted until February.
⚔️ Head to head
We have had many memorable clashes with our F3 rivals over the years, with the overall head to head record in Mariners’ favour, winning 22 out of the 57 meetings. Newcastle have won 17 and there have been 18 draws.
In the history of the fixture, neither side have ever won more than three consecutive F3 Derby Trophies, with the Mariners able to break that record on Saturday.
Who else is ready for a Derby away day this Saturday! 🙋
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) February 28, 2024
We need your support this weekend in Newcastle as we look to secure the F3 Derby trophy! 🏆
Bus 🎟: https://t.co/fb9CWWp2h8#CCMFC #BeOurMate pic.twitter.com/wjASMLdsfQ
👀 One to watch
Despite the Jets’ struggle for league form, one individual who that cannot be said for is striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. The 24-year-old looks to have really found his home in the Hunter Region, as he is in the form of his life this season.
‘Stama’ is the outright leader of the Isuzu UTE A-League scoring charts with 14 goals in 17 games, recently edging ahead of Bruno Fornaroli (13) who has led the way for the majority of the season.
