The Central Coast Mariners Westfield W-League side has returned to the winners circle, courtesy of a 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Clipsal Stadium.
The Central Coast Mariners Westfield W-League side has returned to the winners circle, courtesy of a 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Clipsal Stadium.
Goals from Lydia Vandenbergh and Michelle Heyman put the visitors 2-0 up before Glory starlet Marianna Tabain pulled one back in the final half hour to set up a rousing end to the match.
“We are enjoying it. We are enjoying the training, we are enjoying the football. We will just keep enjoying it and see what happens,” said Mariners head coach Stephen Roche.
“Same story as last week with Canberra. We made a lot of chances and should have shut the gate at the end of the first half.
“We are really concentrating for the full match. Last year we still played good attacking football. Last year we put a lot of teams under pressure but had some really bad lapses in concentration. This year it-s a lot better,” Roche said.
The match began with simple passing errors costing Perth, as the home side gave away possession too easy.
A cheeky shot over the shoulder from Ashleigh Connor in the opening stages gave the home fans a fright, before Glory ‘keeper Emma Wirkus read the ball and saved the danger.
It didn-t take long for the Mariners presence up front to be felt as the second-best scoring team in the League grabbed the opener.
Michelle Heyman-s cross for Lydia Vandenbergh was enough to separate both sides, as the latter broke between two defenders to finish her shot into the roof of the net.
Perth came back using several long-balls forward, but lacked the presence of Lisa De Vanna up front as the Matildas star began from the bench.
Katarina Jukic gave Mariners ‘keeper Jillian Loyden a scare when the Glory forward nearly pounced on the loose ball fumbled by Loyden.
Fortunately for the visitors, Loyden recovered to rescue her side.
The Mariners continued to press forward and a long-range effort from Connor curled just wide of the far post as Wirkus trailed back to block her goal.
Heyman continued to be lively for the visitors and nearly doubled her side-s lead before the half with a glancing header at the near post following an inch-perfect cross from Samantha Spackman.
The introduction of De Vanna sparked a Glory revival and early in the second half saw the talismanic striker nearly equalise.
As she broke away from the Mariners defence, she opened up her body to try and finish in the bottom left corner, but she miscued her kick and skewed it wide of goal.
A poor back pass from Glory captain Tanya Oxtoby resulted in the Mariners- second goal, as Heyman pounced on the ball and powered it into the back of the net, despite Wirkus getting a hand to it and pushing it onto the upright.
Perth responded in a matter of minutes through Marianna Tabain, as the young forward coolly slotted past Loyden to make the final 30 minutes an interesting contest.
Missed chances from the Mariners- Kelly Golebiowski and Connor should have increased the margin, but were unable to capitalise with poor finishing a problem.
Mariners head coach Stephen Roche is excited with the way his team is evolving.
“We are changing the shape slightly each week. We are definitely planning on playing attacking football for the whole season. We are not going to back off. We are not going to die wondering.
“Still the two girls at the centre of the back. I thought actually the whole back line was good today. Composed on the ball when we had it and dropping away at the right time and really nullifying any counter attacks which was the way Perth was playing.
“Again it-s been a team effort as it has been for most of the year. They just want to play with each and for each other.
“To travel and win a match it-s always tough. You get on a plane and come over and some of them aren-t used to it, some may be but you still have to get past that and play football,” Roche said.
The Central Coast Mariners Westfield W-League side is next in action next Saturday, 14 November when they take on Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium. Kick-off is at 2:30pm ACST.
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Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 1. Jillian LOYDEN (GK), 2. Caitlin COOPER (c), 3. Lyndsay GLOHE, 4. Rachael DOYLE, 8. Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI, 9. Renee ROLLASON (13. Trudy CAMILLERI 76-), 10. Kendall FLETCHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN (16. Jenna KINGSLEY 90+1-), 12. Samantha SPACKMAN, 14. Ashleigh CONNOR (5. Jessica SEAMAN 90+2-), 19. Lydia VANDENBERGH.
Unused Subs 20. Rachel COOPER (GK)
Yellow Cards Fletcher 16-, Golebiowski 56-
Red Cards None
Goals Vandenbergh 21-, Heyman 57-
Perth Glory 1. Emma WIRKUS (GK), 3. Carys HAWKINS, 5. Shannon MAY, 8. Tanya OXTOBY (C), 9. Dani CALAUTTI, 10. Ciara CONWAY, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO, 15. Alex SINGER, 16. Sadie LAWRENCE, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 19. Katarina JUKIC.
Unused Subs 20. Zoe PALANDRI (GK)
Yellow Cards Singer 31-, De Vanna 83-
Red Cards None
Goals Tabain 63-
