Central Coast Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery is eager to continue his side’s positive pre-season as they prepare to line up against the Capital All-Stars in Canberra on Wednesday night.
With the Mariners NPL 1st Grade side in action this weekend, Montgomery indicated that a strong squad will be used tomorrow after the commanding victory over Broadmeadow Magic last weekend.
“Our NPL boys are in finals football at the minute, so we brought a small squad here [to Canberra], Montgomery told media in Canberra on Tuesday.
“We left quite a few of the younger boys who have been in and around the first team to train because they have a massive game coming up on the weekend.”
“It is a good opportunity for the first team boys to get minutes tomorrow.”
As far as Montgomery is concerned, the has been a positive pre-season for the club so far, with the squad coming together six weeks ago to begin their A-League Men’s preparations.
The game against the Capital All-Stars will give the team the perfect opportunity to continue to build, with all eyes on round one in October.
“We have been training hard and this will be another trial game for us with a good meaning behind it,” he said.
“We have plenty more games to come now. It is just a case of getting as many games as we can and getting minutes into the legs so come round one against the Jets the boys are fully prepared.”
As he continues his recovery from surgery on both ankles in the off-season, midfielder Josh Nisbet is comfortable with the build-up so far, with the squad preparing to ramp up preparations with the season fast approaching.
“We are [well] into the preseason now, halfway probably through,” Nisbet said.
“We really want to start improving and starting to get on a roll for the season.”
“Everyone prefers to play games than train, so it has been good to get some games in.”
The prospect of playing in front of a new set of fans also excites Nisbet, building off the Mariners’ league match held in Mudgee last season.
“It is a good way to build our fans and family. For Canberra they don’t have an A-League team at the moment,” he said.
“It will be a good way to bring them in and also give them a bit of professional football here.”
Match Details
Wednesday, 24 August
6:30pm
Deakin Stadium
