CENTRAL Coast Mariners Youth suffered just their second loss of the 2012/13 National Youth League season via a narrow 4-3 defeat to Newcastle Jets Youth at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
Left back Michael Neill produced a crisp finish for Mariners Youth in the 50th minute
CENTRAL Coast Mariners Youth suffered just their second loss of the 2012/13 National Youth League season via a narrow 4-3 defeat to Newcastle Jets Youth at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
The junior Jets netted all their goals in the opening half, with Central Coast scoring one in the first 45 and two in the second stanza in reply.
Patrick Dixon, Michael Neill and substitute attacker Tomislav Cirjak netted for the baby Mariners, while for Clayton Zane-s team goals from Chris Grossman, Andrew Hoole, and a brace from striker Kale Bradbery secured the three NYL points.
McLafferty-s men got off to a slow start in the match, falling behind 3-0 before Dixon rounded former Solo FC custodian Aleks Vrteski to bring the Mariners back into the contest at 3-1.
Before Dixon-s 35th minute goal, Chris Grossman fired home crisply from 12 yards, Hoole slid a neat shot under Mariners goalkeeper Daniel Sadaka, and Bradbery rounded the Central Coast custodian before placing the ball into an unguarded goal.
Unfortunately for McLafferty-s side, Newcastle extended their three-goal lead before the interval with Bradbery slamming home a fine effort following Grossman-s flick on.
While the junior Jets were certainly the better of the two sides in the opening half, Mariners Youth enjoyed the better of the play in the second 45.
Indeed, Neill reduced the deficit for Mariners Youth just five minutes after the break with a well-taken effort from a tight angle.
Both sides pushed for more goals as the half wore on but it was substitute Cirjak who gave McLafferty-s team hope of securing a point from the match late in the game.
In the 87th minute, Cirjak curled a free kick towards the back post. The ball evaded both the runs of the Mariners attackers as well as the Jets defence before nestling in the back of the net.
While Mariners Youth made a few late raids in a bid to salvage a draw from the game, the clock ultimately prevented McLafferty-s side from restoring parity to the contest.
Central Coast Mariners Youth play their next match against Melbourne Heart Youth in Tuggerah next Saturday 15 December. Kick-off is 2:00pm and entry is FREE.
Newcastle Jets Youth 4 (Grossman 9-, Hoole 20-, Bradbery 31-, 42-)
Central Coast Mariners Youth 3 (Dixon 35-, Neill 50-, Cirjak 87′)
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
