Mariners women sign off for 2009 with dramatic win
Requiring a win by five goals – with Sydney FC and Perth Glory not winning their respective matches – for the Mariners to progress, Stephen Roche?s players took the match to their opponents from the outset.
Despite mammoth possessional dominance, the boisterous Mariners? supporters were forced to wait until the dying minutes of the encounter to seal the three-points.
Strikes by Jenna Kingsley and Elizabeth O?Reilly in quick succession clinched three very deserved points for the Mariners.
Following the encounter, player of the match Renee Rollason, who was an uncertain starter for the match after battling a virus throughout the week, expressed her delight:
?It was a great result, the girls believed in getting a win and we did. It was just a shame that the girls didn?t come earlier as we may have been able to get to five; considering all our dominance throughout the match.
Central Coast boss Stephen Roche was more than content following the full-time whistle:
?We showed exactly what we can do today, and we did it having avoided the lapses in concentration our young side has had this season.
?We were great throughout the match and if only we had taken the chances we created throughout the match we may have reached the five goals; I am equally proud of the players for a tremendous match and a great season,? Roche concluded.
An even opening to the match was brought to life by the Mariners on 5? minutes when a quick free-kick taken by Caitlin Cooper released Kyah Simon on the edge of the penalty-area; the Young Matilda?s cross only just failed to pick out Jenna Kingsley in-front of goal and the chance went begging.
Renee Rollason took matters into her own hands on 12? minutes when a swift Mariners? counter-attack provided the skillful midfielder with some space to move. Rollason beat her first marker before unleashing a powerful drive goalwards; the Victory?s Australian International goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri watched the effort finish inches wide of her goal post.
Lindsay Glohe?s tremendous searching ball from the halfway line released Kingsley one-on-one with Barbieri. Kingsley?s first touch took her to the left of the goal and her final effort was skewed wide of the mark.
Despite some fine touches in midfield, the visitors failed to penetrate the Mariners? rear-guard; Caitlin Cooper leading her defence from the middle.
Melbourne did carve out a chance shortly after when Sophie Hogben stung the palms of Mariners? goalkeeper Emma-Kate Dewhurst. Hogben?s snap-shot from the edge of the penalty-area had ?goal? written all over it if not for Dewhirst?s impressive one-handed save.
The Mariners? responded with a surging run by Rachael Doyle down the right-flank. Doyle?s tantalising cross into the penalty-area was met by Simon, who rounded the goalkeeper with her touch, though failed to keep control of the ball as it finished behind the goal-line.
Renee Rollason then caused distress for the Victory?s right-hand side as she managed to glide her way into the penalty-area; Rollason?s cut-back effort from the byline failed to pick out a team-mate and the opportunity was thwarted by the Victory defence.
Heavy rain greeted the players on-return to the playing field for the second-half and it was Melbourne to cut out the first chance.
Central Coast Captain Caitlin Cooper kept the Mariners? in the match with a goal-line clearance in the opening exchanges following some fine build-up play between Victory duo Sarah Groenewald and Rebecca Tegg.
Teresa Polias? 52? minute corner nearly provided an opening for Rachael Doyle at the back post though the lunging effort from the Mariners? defender was cleared by some resolute Victory defending.
Concerns arose following a collision between Mariners? shot-stopper Dewhurst and Melbourne?s Rebecca Tegg; Dewhurst came off second best though managed to soldier on momentarily for the Mariners? cause.
Central Coast?s best chance arrived in the 64? minute following a tremendous counter-attack. Jenna Kingsley was played through one-on-one with Barbieri though slight hesitation proved to be the striker?s undoing as she hit a weak effort past the Victory shot-stopper?s left-hand post.
Renee Rollason had the crowd on their feet when she picked up a loose ball on the halfway line before dribbling towards goal and unleashing a long-range bomb from 30-metres; the ball finished just over Barbieri?s crossbar.
The Mariners? dominance of possession continued with Kyah Simon trying her luck from distance. The Young Matildas? vicious drive from distance failed to draw a save from Barbieri.
Mariners? boss Stephen Roche had to re-arrange his substitution plans as goalkeeper Emma-Kate Dewhurst was forced to leave the field following the previous collision with Rebecca Tegg. Lisa Hartley enterred the fray and showed her composure at the back.
A scare for the visitors on 83? minutes when a Kingsley cross from the right was headed behind for a corner; the ball only just skimming Barbieri?s up-right.
The breakthrough arrived for the Mariners in the 89? minute as Kingsley managed to spring the offside trap and calmly slot home past Barbieri.
With the energetic Mariners supporters in full song, substitute Elizabeth O?Reilly expertly diverted a half-volley from a Lindsay Glohe assist past Barbieri to round out the result at 2-0.
The final result was not enough for the Mariners to surpass the Victory in fourth-spot; the Victory eagerly awaiting the remaining Round 10 matches to see whether their hold on fourth-spot will remain intact at the conclusion of final round proceedings.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Jenna KINGSLEY 89?, Elizabeth O?REILLY 90? +2?)
Melbourne Victory 0
Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
Saturday 27th December, 2008
Referee: Kate Jacewicz
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 1.Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk) (20.Lisa HARTLEY 75?); 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Lyndsay GLOHE, 4.Rachael DOYLE, 5. Jodie BAIN (12.Gill FOSTER 67?), 6.Karina ROWETH, 7.Teresa POLIAS, 8.Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kyah SIMON, 13.Trudy Camilleri (15. Elizabeth O?REILLY46?), 23.Jenna KINGSLEY
Substitutes Not Used: 18.Emma STEWART
Yellow Cards: Jenna KINGSLEY 49?
Red Cards: Nil
Melbourne Victory line-up: 1.Melissa BARBIERI(gk), 2.Megan ARCHER, 3.Marlies Oostdam, 4.Tal KARP (10.Stephanie TANTI 72?), 5.Laura ALLEWAY, 6.Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 7.Sarah GROENWALD (19.Enza BARILLA 77?), 9.Rebecca TEGG, 12.Sophie HOGBEN, 14.Selin KURULAY,15.Daniela DIGIAMMARCO (13.Deanna NICESKI 82?)
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Nicole PAUL (gk)
Yellow Cards: Sophie HOGBEN 75?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
