Mariners topple Jets in the capital
Mile Jedinak?s two goals either side of the break, coupled with Sasho Petrovski?s early strike, saw the Mariners home by a comfortable margin over their northern rivals, who like the Mariners started the match with an experimental line up.
That said, the Mariners? first eleven was perhaps their strongest of their nine-match pre-season trial match program to date, with Qantas Socceroo Jedinak headlining a starting side that also featured season three regulars Andrew Clark, Dean Heffernan, John Hutchinson and Petrovski.
Key new signings Adrian Caceres, Ahmad Elrich and Dylan Macallister were also featured from the opening whistle.
There were yet more positives to come in the second stanza, when recently re-signed pair Andre Gumprecht and Matthew Osman emerged from the bench along with Nik Mrdja and Danny Vukovic, who each made their first appearances ahead of the 2008/09 campaign.
With one pre-season trial match still to play, today?s result will have given the Mariners? regular season preparations a major boost, with the new Hyundai A-League season and the Mariners? Premiership defence fast approaching.
“The two early goals set the tone of the game, the first half we dominated mostly, they had a bit of the ball but didn?t do much with it and we created some good chances,” said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna.
“The second half they changed their shape a little bit, but never really caused us any problems, but I?m very happy with how the boys played.”
The large Canberra Stadium turnout of 4,873 were barely settled into their seats before they witnessed the match opener, with Jedinak powering home Ahmad Elrich?s delightful corner from the left side at the near post.
Indeed, the Mariners were still celebrating Jedinak?s strike when Petrovski doubled the Mariners? advantage less than one minute later.
Local product and youth international Bradley Porter supplied the Mariners? season three Golden Boot winner with a delicate through ball that Petrovski duly dispatched past Jets custodian Ante Covic to hand the Mariners a hardly fathomable 2-0 advantage within five minutes.
The Mariners continued to dominate for the remainder of the half, with new look central defensive pairing Clark and Jedinak controlling proceedings at the back, assisted by wingbacks Porter and Dean Heffernan ? the latter of which produced his most assured and confident display since breaking his tibia last December.
In midfield, Elrich was dynamic and threatening at every turn and provided another inch perfect cross that was again nodded home by Jedinak within fifteen minutes of the restart.
On the opposite flank, Caceres showed signs of settling in with his new team-mates with a comfortable showing that lasted 60 minutes, while Hutchinson, standing in for regular captain Alex Wilkinson due to the incumbent skippers knee injury, built upon his outstanding pre-season form.
Up front, Macallister and Petrovski?s partnership continued to prosper, a sobering thought for opposition defences given the pending return of Qantas Socceroo Mrdja and Qantas Under 23?s squad member Matt Simon.
“We were a bit skinny on numbers for today, but Nik Mrdja came on and he?ll be better for the run, Matthew Osman came on with no problems at all, Heff got through 75 minutes and Caceres played an hour and each of them are getting stronger,” said McKinna.
“Our possession was good, Hutch played great, Mile Jedinak did a good job at centre half, Brad Porter did a good job, Gumprecht came in and did a good job, so overall there were a lot of positives.”
The Mariners will contest their final pre-season trial match before beginning their 2008 Pre-Season Cup campaign against the Beijing-bound New Zealand Under 23?s at Knox Grammar School on Tuesday, 15 July. Kick off is at 3pm.
Following this match, the Mariners are bound for the New Zealand capital, where they will play the Wellington Phoenix in the opening round of the 2008 Pre-Season Cup at Westpac Stadium on Sunday, 20 July. Kick off is at 2pm AEST.
Mariners Memberships for the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season are now on sale at www.ccmariners.com.au.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 30. Andrew Redmayne (gk) (20. Danny Vukovic (gk) 46?), 5. Bradley Porter, 7. John Hutchinson (17. Matthew Osman 62?), 8. Dean Heffernan (18. Luke Pilkington 78?), 10. Adrian Caceres (12. David D?Apuzzo 64?), 11. Frank Lagana (9. Nik Mrdja 73?), 15. Andrew Clark, 21. Ahmad Elrich, 22. Sasho Petrovski, 23. Mile Jedinak, 27. Dylan Macallister (6. Andre Gumprecht 46?)
Yellow Cards Porter 11?, Porter 90?
Red Cards Porter 90?
Goals Jedinak 4?, 61?, Petrovski 5?
Newcastle Jets 1. Ante Covic (gk), 5. Antun Kovacic, 7. Kaz Patafta, 8. Matt Thompson, 10. Jin-Hyung Song, 11. Tarek Elrich, 12. Jobe Wheelhouse, 13. Adam D?Apuzzo, 14. Joel Woods, 15. Jason Hoffman, 19. Jason Naidovski
Substitutes 9. Joel Griffiths, 16. Jarrad Ross, 20. Ben Kennedy (gk), Taylor Beaton
Yellow Cards Wheelhouse 33?, Kovacic 70?
Red Cards None
Goals None
Referee Ben Williams
Crowd 4,873
