After getting injured in his first training session with the Central Coast Mariners after signing from Western United, it was a tough road to recovery for Dylan Wenzel-Halls.
Keen to be able to take the field for his new club, his debut was delayed for multiple months as he had to wait for his body to be ready.
Since coming off the bench against Brisbane Roar a fortnight ago, it has been an incredible two weeks for the striker.
His celebration with Moresche after scoring his first goal for the club last weekend indicative of the elation that he was feeling.
“It was an unbelievable feeling. Especially after my first few months here being injured, to get back out there and score my first girl so early in my Mariners career was a nice feeling,” he said.
“Being a striker, to score your first goal is always a great feeling and to get, I suppose, the monkey off the back. The best feeling is putting the ball in the back of the net, that is what I get paid to do. To do that so early in my Mariners career was really nice.”
It was a difficult beginning to his Mariners career, unable to play after moving to the Central Coast. His injury taking some time to mend, with the striker pleased to be back out on the park contributing to the side.
“It was really tough when I first got here. Getting injured in my first session, at the time it felt like the end of the world, it was disappointing. The guys have been so supportive, and I worked really hard to get back here,” Wenzel-Halls said.
“It’s just nice to be back out there because the Central Coast is a beautiful place to live, all that was missing was game time. To get my ankle sorted and be back out there playing, it’s a good feeling and has come at a good time as well with three games to go.”
The trip to Ballarat a positive one on multiple fronts for Wenzel-Halls and the entire team, securing a vital three points while grabbing a long-awaited victory in Victoria.
“It has been a long time and we spoke a bit about it as well. It was nice to break that duck. We don’t really think about it too much as players, but for the fans and the club as a whole it was good to break that duck and get that result for everyone,” he said.
“The most pleasing thing about the trip was that we went there a got a good result. We kept a clean sheet for Vuka which is massive for him almost breaking the record. To do that, while scoring three goals away from home is fantastic. It gives us a lot of confidence going into City’s game this weekend.”
That match against the current league leaders is a vital one with only three rounds remaining, as the Mariners aim for a home final.
Wenzel-Halls and the squad aware of the dangers that the away side will possess, however they are still confident that they can keep the momentum going.
“It will be massive for us to play against City, they are a great team. They are coming off a good result so it is a big game for us. Being Pink Round as well, it is a great cause and we are looking forward to hopefully a good turn out and a good result to keep this roll on,” he said.
“We are flying at the moment. We have had a big two wins with three games to go. We have spoken about it being three cup finals where every game is important for us to obviously finish off the season well and get on a roll come the finals.”
