After a solid performance against league-leaders Newcastle Jets last week, Warren Moon’s side came into a six-point affair in Campbelltown confident they could get a result.
Despite the absence of Storm Roux, Miguel Di Pizio, and James Donachie due to injuries, the young Mariners side was up for the fight, defending an early spell of dominance from the home side.
Kaito Taniguchi was gifted a great chance 21 minutes into the match, after some good pressing high up the pitch from young full-back Jacob Nasso. The ball ended up at the feet of the attacking midfielder on the edge of the box, but his shot was drilled firmly into the chest of Macarthur goalkeeper Alex Robinson.
Bailey Brandtman had a curling effort saved in the 32nd minute, after some smart footwork from the young midfielder created space just inside the right-hand side of the box.
Brandtman was involved again just two minutes later when he was brought down in the box after a long throw-in. Alfie McCalmont stepped up and calmly sent Robinson the wrong way, rolling his penalty into the bottom right corner and putting the Mariners up 1-0.
Macarthur had a strong push, creating a lot of momentum after going behind, but went into the sheds at half-time with the same score line.
More pressing from the Mariners created a chance for Ali Auglah, but his first-time shot from the 18-yard box was sent over the bar.
The home side continued putting the pressure on the Mariners, but were unable to get past veteran shot-stopper Andrew Redmayne.
A triple substitution from Warren Moon in the 61st minute brought Haine Eames, Nathanael Blair, and Sabit Ngor into the game, and with it a renewed sense of urgency for the Mariners.
A deflected shot from Blair three minutes later led to a pair of corners for the away side, with Bailey Brandtman in the action again, this time powering home a failed clearance with a volley from the edge of the box to double the Mariners advantage.
Despite an immediate response from Anthony Caceres, making it 2-1, a late, lunging challenge on Nathaniel Blair saw Tommy Uskok shown a straight red.
It went from bad to worse for Macarthur as goalkeeper Alexander Robinson was caught out of his area and received the home side’s second red card of the night for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Nathanael Blair sealed the win for the Mariners, latching on to a deflected cross by Sabit Ngor, extending a boot at the near post just ahead of substitute goalkeeper Filip Kurto to poke it just under the cross-bar at the near post.
The Mariners extend their all-time unbeaten streak away against Macarthur to six games (5W, 1D) and their current unbeaten streak in the league to seven (4W, 3D).
This also sees them move into the top six for the first time since November last year.
The Mariners will look to continue their hot run of form as they return home to host Adelaide United next Saturday at polytec Stadium.
