The Central Coast Mariners’ National Youth League (NYL) side has continued its late season form upswing with a hard fought 2-1 triumph over the Melbourne Victory at Epping Stadium yesterday.
The Central Coast Mariners- National Youth League (NYL) side has continued its late season form upswing with a hard fought 2-1 triumph over the Melbourne Victory at Epping Stadium yesterday.
Daniel Taylor and Matthew Lewis- first goals in Mariners colours, the latter-s coming in the final minutes, secured the Mariners their second NYL win over their Victorian-based counterparts after Matthew Theodore had given the hosts an early lead.
Hyundai A-League experienced pair Greg Owens and Paul O-Grady each contributed ninety minutes – a positive sign for the Mariners- first team ambitions given their likely inclusion in next Sunday-s match up against Adelaide United at Bluetongue Stadium.
However, the performance of the Mariners- young brigade, which has turned its NYL form around to record four wins and two draws from its past nine starts, again showed character and quality to defeat a Melbourne side that lined up with six players with experience in the Hyundai A-League.
Taylor-s strike was the result of a neat sweeping movement that involved Laurence Braude and striker Brady Smith, with Taylor supplying the final touch to a passing sequence that bamboozled the Victory backline only moments after they had taken the lead.
The match winner came about on the back of a sustained period of pressure from the visitors given the early second half send off of Evan Berger.
Australian Schoolboy representative Lewis had his one on one effort against Mitchell Langerak deflected off the boot of a desperate Victory defender before looping over Langerak and into the Victory goal to secure the Mariners their fifth triumph of the season.
“The boys played really well, it was a totally different team to the one that turned up last week, which to be fair was a performance that was totally out of character given the overall quality of our performances in recent times,” said Mariners Youth Development Co-ordinator Damien Brown after the match.
“Melbourne started off really well and we knew that we were in for a battle, but we hit back quickly and dominated from then on.
“They still had their chances, but on the measure of the ninety minutes we felt we deserved the win.
“Last week we didn-t have too many players that won their individual battles but this time we dominated all over the park, particularly in midfield where Melbourne had a lot of Hyundai A-League quality players.”
The Mariners NYL campaign continues at their Bluetongue Stadium home on Sunday, 25 January, where the yellow and navy will host Adelaide United ahead of the Mariners- final regular season round of the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 campaign. Kick off is at 4pm.
Tickets for this match are on sale from Ticketek outlets, from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 30. Andrew Redmayne (gk) (1. Matthew Nemes (gk) 58-), 2. Steven Tibbetts, 7. Matthew Lewis, 9. Brady Smith, 10. Glen Trifiro, 12. Scott Wright (6. Ty Owens 60-), 13. Laurence Braude, 14. Greg Owens, 15. Paul O-Grady, 17. Sean Mitchell (8. Ashley Balcomb 60-), 21. Daniel Taylor
Unused Subs 11. Tim McGowan
Yellow Cards None
Red Cards None
Goals Taylor 10-, Lewis 88-
Melbourne Victory 1. Mitchell Langerak (gk), 2. Robert Wynne (14. Mifit Bojku 57-), 3. Steven Pace, 4. Matthew Foschini, 5. Grant Brebner, 6. Evan Berger, 7. Aziz Behich, 8. Leigh Broxham, 9. Mathew Theodore (12. Stephen Hatzikostas 60-), 10. Nathan Elasi, 11. Dimitri Hatzimouratis (15. Craig Sweeney 60-)
Unused Subs 20. Sebastian Mattei (gk)
Yellow Cards Berger 45-+1, 53-, Sweeney 90-+1
Red Cards Berger 53-
Goals Theodore 9-
Referee Kevin Docherty
