The Mariners Academy PS4 NPL 2 Women shared the spoils away from home in a 3-3 draw with Sydney Olympic on Sunday afternoon.
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women 3 (Gabrielle Blanch 4’, 40’ & Georgia Davis 89’) Sydney Olympic FC WPL 3 (Courtney Holmwood 10’, 31’) (Madelaine Costanzo 62’)
The Mariners Women took an early lead as a goal hungry Gabbi Blanch pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard-box and fired past the Olympic keeper.
The home side equalised from a penalty at the 10th minute mark and the scores were locked up 1-1.
Olympic drove hard through the middle using speed to try and crack the Mariners defence and at the 31st minute a slick strike saw them take the lead.
That wouldn’t deter the Mariners who remained focussed on their game plan and the 40th minute saw an attack draw the Olympic defenders which released Blanch wide, who then drove to be one on one with the keeper and finished for her second goal of the day and lock the scores up 2-2 at half time.
Olympic continued to exploit their speed upfront and a clever pass saw a break away to Olympic’s Madelaine Costanzo who slotted her shot past the diving Mariners’ keeper Jess Schultz to regain the lead in the 62nd minute.
Mariners’ coach Mark Yule had made some minor positional changes, designed to give the team more attacking options.
Both teams wrestled for control in the midfield and the late part of the game was a titanic struggle for dominance.
Yule summoned his players for one final drive and rising star Georgia Davis answered with an 89th minute rocket from the edge of the penalty area into the top left corner of the goal leaving the Olympic keeper no chance.
Play barely had time to restart and the final whistle blew on a very entertaining and high quality match.
“Today was a gutsy effort against the second placed side,” Yule said. “As a team we worked extremely hard and the way forward for us is to focus on faster and more confident ball movement to keep possession.
Round 7 next Sunday sees The Mariners host Southern Branch FC at Pluim Park. Entry is free Under 13ss kick off at 8.30am with First Grade kicking off at 3pm.
Match stats
Sunday 21st May 2017, Peter Moore Park
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women: Jess Schulz (GK), 7 Gabrielle Blanch, 4 Georgia Davis, 8 Oriana Keane (Cpt), 6 Jade Mcatamney (18 Kate Duffy), 9 Candice Phelan, 14 Elizabeth Shorter, 2 Jess Terry (13 Jade Kroemer),15 Madelyn Ryan, 5 Letisha Waddell, 12 Katie Oliveira
Unused Subs: 20 Maddie Bradbury, 10 Molly Couch, 3 Jasmine Beacroft
Yellow cards: Keane, Shorter
Head Coach: Mark Yule
Sydney Olympic FC Women: Manada Amberg, Chloe Avgoustou, Rochelle Borromeo, Rebecca Browning, Danielle Calvi, Lily Chan, Madelaine Costanzo, Kate Halaska, Courtney Holmwood, Teome Matamua, Naomi Nguyen, Helen Orr, Vanessa Patrulovski, Eloise Taylor, Kalista Tsoupis
Earlier Academy results:
- Under 13 CCMA 1 SOFC 0
- Under 15 CCMA 0 SOFC 5
- Under 17 CCMA 1 SOFC 1
- Reserves CCMA 2 SOFC 2
