Despite a second half send off, the Central Coast Mariners Academy Men came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw against Parramatta whilst the Women were handed a defeat by the table topping Sydney Olympic.
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 (Peters 29’ & Vinci 70’) Parramatta FC 2 (Yalda 26’ & Awaz 45+3’)
A 2-2 draw sees the men sit in third place on the ladder behind St George FC & Mount Druitt Town Rangers.
Parramatta took the lead twice, and by the end had a one-man-advantage which saw the flow shift from an in-control-Mariners to a team who bravely held on for a draw.
Neram Yalda opened the scoring for the Eagles, but their joy was short-lived as a lapse in concentration allowed the Mariners to equalise just two minutes later through Emmanuel Peters.
But as it looked like the sides would hit the sheds all square, Abuzar Awaz stepped up in the fourth minute of added time to steal his side a half-time lead.
Neither side could fashion a genuine goal-scoring opportunity in the opening stages of the second half, that was until Alec Vinci stepped up with just 20 minutes to go to blast past the keeper to level the scores.
The joy was short lived when Emmanuel Peters was awarded his second yellow card to be sent from the pitch and leave the Mariners academy with 10 men.
Suddenly the momentum shifted again, this time in favour of Parramatta but a stubborn Central Coast Mariners defence held firm to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The game could have gone either way in the dying stages when Adam Pearce went down to make an impressive save to keep the scores locked and at the other end the Mariners also squandered a chance of their own in front of goal.
Next round sees the Mariners Academy do battle in an all A-League affair against the Western Wanderers Academy this Saturday night at Sydney United Sports Centre. Kick-off is 7pm.
- U20’s WON 6-1 (A. Taouil Z. Forsyth J. Jevtic T. Taufiq T. Taufiq A. Abdullah)
- U18’s DREW 1-1 (C. Windust)
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women 2 (Phelan x 2) Sydney Olympic Women 5 (L. Bever L. Bever S. Bozanic M. Costanzo A. Vitek)
The Central Coast Mariners Academy women suffered a 5-2 loss at the hands of first-placed Sydney Olympic away from home.
A brave Mariners side got themselves a pair of goals from sharpshooter, Candice Phelan in the second half which took her season tally to a whopping 12 goals in five games.
The Mariners showed their mettle early as Kate Duffy and Melissa Swinfield tested Olympic FC keeper Amanda Horafios within the first ten minutes.
Kirby Litterick went even closer from a set piece as the Mariners looked to continue their goal plundering ways from the last few weeks.
Olympic absorbed the early pressure and scored first through Siahn Bozanic. Then Madelaine Costanzo doubled the lead for Olympic before Lieke Bever scored their third heading into the break.
After a quiet first half, the Mariners star forward Candice Phelan got herself involved immediately after the break, a swerving shot stung the hands of Horafios. Those two got tangled again as Phelan was denied point blank by the Olympic keeper.
Once again though, Olympic replied quickly and decisively. Bozanic played to Bever who fired low and made it four for the hosts.
The Mariners earned their goal in the 69th minute when Phelan angled her run well from a cushioned through ball, and nestled it into the back of the net. The striker added a second late on for her brace.
Substitute Amelia Vitek, fresh onto the field added a fifth when she diverted a Bever cross into the net for her first of the season.
- Reserves DREW 0-0
- 17s WON 4-1
- 15s LOST 4-2
- 14s WON 1-0
