Our senior teams couldn’t be dampened by the rain affected conditions with some spectacular performances against opponents SD Raiders FC and South East Phoenix. Unfortunately, our youth sides were unable to get on the pitch due to the wet weather.
Women’s:
With poor conditions draining the excitement from our youth teams, the senior teams sure ramped up the heat with a goal fest against South East Phoenix, beginning with the 20’s.
Coming off the back of two straight losses, our 20’s needed a result that would stabilise the position among the top teams. Defeated last week by Marconi Stallions U20’s 7-2, a real showing at home would be a major boost in confidence, and they did just that.
On the back of an unstoppable Starlie Leonard hattrick – first half brace – and goals to Skye Parkes and Natalie Davis, Mariners routed Phoenix 5-0 to hold fourth position on the table.
If that result didn’t get the faithful on their feet, Peter Preston’s side continued the onslaught of goals.
It was a clinical performance from our first-grade side, with doubles to captain Kaitlin Murphy and Gabrielle Blanch resulting in a 4-1 score line against Phoenix.
Preston’s side ran away with the match in the second half, as the team’s entered halftime locked at 1-1 courtesy of Phoenix’s Madison Cater adding to her goal tally. Despite the momentum heading into the break, the young Phoenix side couldn’t match the experience of the Mariners.
Head coach Peter Preston was pleased with his side’s combatant turnaround from their last game to secure the result.
“A strong performance today from our girls, they played really well,” said Preston.
“We played some excellent football and created numerous chances.”
First grade sits sixth on the ladder in a very tight competition, firmly in the hunt for finals.
Men’s:
Focusing on continuing their domination in their respective leagues, the Mariners Men’s Academy side’s opponent SD Raiders FC stood no chance against our boys at home.
Beginning with the 20’s, the side controlled the full 90’ commandingly, going into halftime 3-0 up and eventually winning 5-0.
Goals to Aidan Milicevic, Callum Richards, Tommy Edmonds, Max Middleby and Ethan Debono secured their ninth win in of the season – five in a row – and now sit equal first on the table with Northern Tigers FC.
For the first-grade side it was much of the same, tallying their third straight win with a 4-0 victory over SD Raiders FC on the back of a lethal attacking performance.
Andrew Christiansen’s side didn’t take long to find the net, with Jackson Khoury scoring from close range in the third minute.
Forward Lachlan Bayliss justified his feature article with Football NSW, recording a brace with goals either side of half time. Bayliss takes his tally to eight goals for the season – having scored a goal in each of his last three matches.
Teng Kuol finished the game with a composed finish inside the area from a left-wing cross in the 80th minute, deserved of his efforts coming off the bench.
Raiders weren’t completely blown off the park, pressuring goalkeeper Patrick Beach into a few saves, though he was firmly up to the challenge. Beach has been valuable for Christiansen, with the side having conceded the least goals in the competition at 11.
Central Coast Academy Results:
League One Women’s:
Central Coast Mariners 20’s 5 – 0 South East Phoenix 20’s
Central Coast Mariners First Grade 4 – 1 South East Phoenix First Grade
League One Men’s:
Central Coast Mariners 20’s 5 – 0 SD Raiders FC 20’s
Central Coast Mariners First Grade 4 – 0 SD Raiders FC First Grade
