The Central Coast Mariners women are 90 minutes away from clinching the 2009 Westfield W-League Premiership with Sydney FC visiting Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Central Coast Mariners women are 90 minutes away from clinching the 2009 Westfield W-League Premiership with Sydney FC visiting Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It-s shaping as a huge match for both teams, with just two points separating the rivals at the top of the ladder, the Mariners hopeful of a big home crowd to help push them across the line, with Mariners Members to be admitted free of charge.
The Yellow and Navy women have been unyielding this season conceding defeat on only one occasion back in Round 3 against title favourites Brisbane Roar, perfectly demonstrated by the side-s top of the table positioning one round from the end.
“The girls have been great this season, though there is still work to do, so we cannot get carried away; We are all expecting the girls to maintain the high level of concentration and intensity that we have shown so far,” said Mariners- boss Stephen Roche.
The Mariners- women endured perhaps their most strenuous of matches in Round 9 in the ‘F3 derby- against Newcastle Jets, overcoming the heat and a well organised Jets for a 3-1 final win.
“They (Newcastle Jets) really had nothing to lose, and it was tough for our team, we did struggle early on in the match.
“I thought Jenna Kingsley was in great touch, though perhaps we did lack some mobility with our other strikers against the Jets.
“The positive is that the players were angry with themselves for conceding the goal we conceded – our concentration has been great this season – so the players were really down for conceding at the death in the first-half.
“We missed some chances in the first-half, though we got going in the second-half and we moved the ball well to tire them (Newcastle Jets) as the match wore on,” said Roche.
The task at hand for the final match of the season at Bluetongue Stadium is to avoid defeat to finish the season first, and the Mariners will be out to keep morale sky-high heading into the finals series.
“We have a big opportunity to finish the regular season off well, though we are aware of how good Sydney FC are.
“They like to push the ball around and move forward, so we will need to be organised well and keep our shape both when in possession and when defending,” Roche said.
The Mariners- boss enters the final round of the season with some selection headaches with captain Caitlin Cooper and Kelly Golebiowski both sitting out the match – the former through suspension, the latter succumbing to a knee injury.
“At the back, we will need to re-shuffle as Caitlin (Cooper) has picked up the three yellow cards and will need to sit-out the match, which is not ideal in such an important match.
“Kelly-s (Golebiowski) situation is even more concerning for us as she will be out for a few more weeks; we hope that it isn-t for the entire season, though it is something that we will need to be prepared for,” Roche said.
The Central Coast Mariners women sit two points clear of Sydney FC at the top of the Westfield W-League ladder, one-week out from the finals series. The two teams met in the opening round of the 2009 Westfield W-League season at the Sydney Football Stadium where Stephen Roche-s side ran out 3-1 victors with Michelle Heyman opening her impressive tally of 11 goals in 9 games to date with a brace.
Roche, and his squad, are hopeful of a huge crowd at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday afternoon to help push the side toward the Premiership.
The Central Coast Mariners Westfield W-League team hosts Sydney FC at Bluetongue Stadium this Saturday, 5 December. Kick-off is at 3:00pm.
Tickets are just $5 for adults, $2 concession, with children Under 16 and Mariners Members admitted free. Tickets are available at the gates, which open at 2:30pm. Entry is only via the Western Gates under the Brian McGowan Bridge.
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Jillian LOYDEN (gk), 3. Lyndsay GLOHE, 4. Rachael DOYLE, 5. Jessica SEAMAN, 7. Teresa POLIAS, , 9. Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kendall FLETCHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Samantha SPACKMAN, 13. Trudy CAMILLERI, 14. Ashleigh CONNOR, 15. Elizabeth O’REILLY, 16. Jenna KINGSLEY, 17. Britt SIMMONS, 19. Lydia VANDENBERGH, 20. Rachel COOPER (gk).
*one to be omitted*
In: Elizabeth O’REILLY, Britt SIMMONS.
Out: Caitlin COOPER (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: Caitlin COOPER (suspended – 1 week) , Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI (knee – indefinite)
Sydney FC squad: 1. Nikola DEITER (gk), 2. Teigen ALLEN 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Heather GARRIOCK (c), 8. Julie RYDAHL, 9. Sarah WALSH, 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 11. Cathrine PAASKE, 12. Michelle CARNEY, 13. Catherine CANNULI, 15. Kyah SIMON, 16. Linda O-NEILL, 18. Brittany WHITFIELD, 19. Leena KHAMIS, 20. Carla MONFORTE (gk)
*one to be omitted*
In: Michelle CARNEY (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nicola BOLGER (knee – season), Danielle BROGAN (knee – season)
Referee: Kate Jacewicz
