Sharks dig deep against Mariners Academy
Sutherland Sharks scored a late Panni Nikas goal to overcome the brave challenge by Central Coast Mariners Academy on a beautiful evening at Seymour Shaw Park in what turned out to be a very entertaining encounter.
The home side, with the marginal win, has kept its unbeaten start to the 2013 season.
In only the 2’ minute, Mariners Academy player Adam Jenner had the legs over Klim Gjorseski down the visitors right and pulled the ball back for Christopher Payne to fire just over.
Immediately down the other end, the Sharks had a Jamie McMaster effort slide just over the crossbar, chances in quick succession for both sides setting the tone early.
Perry Moustakas had a header well held by former Sharks player Jordan Nikolovski, between the sticks for the Academy in the 8’ minute only for the effort to be negated for pushing as Sutherland were going forward with plenty of intent via the flanks and through the middle.
Jamie Lobb needed to get a foot in to stop Nikas from getting a shot on target in the 15’ minute after a scything run through the middle.
The home crowd were up in arms when what looked like a stone cold penalty wasn’t given to the Sharks moments later. The atmosphere in the stands was certainly warming up as those assembled made their presence known.
Sutherland were pressing their visitors back often resulting in all but Nathan Denham inside the opposing half but when they broke it was quick and incisive, one such moment ending in James Monie misfiring, and an easy gather for Denham.
Christopher Naumoff replaced Jamie McMaster in the 22’ minute, the latter appearing to aggravate an Achilles tendon in a 50/50 challenge during the opening exchanges.
After the initial exertions of the sides it settled down to a midfield battle with the Coast playing down their right or the ball over the top with little in the way of progress down their left whilst Sutherland continued their usual flowing passing game yet not creating much in goalmouth action.
Another Nikas free-kick in the 39’ minute, after being fouled outside the box, was comfortably held by Nikolovski with the impression the Sharks were playing to tire the younger legs of their opponents and capitalise during the second stanza.
In the 41’ minute, Naumoff was put through on goal only to be flagged offside.
Nikas came close again in the dying seconds when turning briskly and flashing a shot wide of the up-right as Sutherland applied their usual pressure toward the end of the first-half and upped the tempo, the only shortfall being the lack of direction with their strikes.
The first 45’ minutes ended as it began at nil-all however the promise was there of goals later in the match and although not setting the world alight during the opening stanza, it had been an entertaining enough opening period.
Nathan Verity had a long-range attempt that was scuffed and yet another easy take for Denham as the Academy slipped into gear at the start of the second-half.
Brad Boardman and Nathan Elasi contrived to squander an opening for Sutherland between them almost immediately, and the only thing missing was the elusive goal that would truly spark the game into life.
Indeed Elasi, after a strong first 45’ minutes, was certainly gaining further headway against his counterpart Mapu Ridge down the Sutherland right with all the signs indicating a late goal would be enough to decide this one.
Central Coast hit on the counter and Denham was forced into a terrific save down to his left from a rasping drive via Monie that was put out for a corner on the hour mark.
Gjorseski set off down the Sharks left and slipped a delightful ball in for Nikas however he was unable to centre for the unmarked Elasi as Nikolovski was quickly off his line to bravely throw his body at the feet of the Sutherland midfielder and avert the chance.
Nikas again had an effort from distance in the 74’ minute that flew high of the mark as both teams looked somewhat devoid of ideas on how to finally break down their opponent.
Naumoff was put through on an acute angle for Sutherland that Academy captain Jamie Lobb was quick to defuse but one minute later saw Panni Nikas finish off from close-range after a point-blank stop by Nikolovski who beat away a shot from Elasi that gave the home side the lead.
It was little more than Sutherland deserved yet was seen in context as unjust by some however it was an object lesson in staying focussed for the entire 90’ minutes.
The home side created the better chances on a night their own game was slightly off but credit Central Coast Mariners Academy for a battling performance against one of the league’s top guns.
Denham was forced in to a double save at the feet of Academy strikers in stoppage time when it appeared he had been unjustly knocked off the ball in an aerial challenge but it was too little too late for the visitors as Sutherland retained their unbeaten start to the 2013 campaign.
Academy coach Mark Jones said afterwards:
“I thought we played really well tonight, got into some good areas and played for the full 90-minutes.
“I’m obviously disappointed we copped the goal the way we did after giving the ball away in a good area by one of our more senior players, but that happens.
“We’ve played quite well so far but only have one point to show for it and that isn’t good enough in the big league but we are playing good football and we just need to hang in there I suppose and try to win a few games.
“I don’t feel we were caught short on the goal as they had a couple of lucky ricochets and we could have cleared it but you make your own luck and fair play to Sutherland they did the business tonight.”
Robbie Stanton was full of praise afterwards when stating:
“They are a good team, well drilled, well organised and when they find their feet at this level they are going to upset a few teams.
“We had a plan tonight that was a little different to normal so it wasn’t so much we ran out of ideas as followed what we worked on this week and we don’t have to win by three goals each week when one is enough and I felt we played well and were organised.
“We remain unbeaten and we can look forward to our next game with confidence.
On Jamie McMaster he added:
“He will probably be back next week. He felt we should have had a penalty and perhaps went into the next challenge a little harder than usual and turned his ankle but if he isn’t fit for next week then we’ll use someone else.
“I subbed him for Chris Naumoff who is only 17-years old but he did a terrific job for us tonight and has done when called on so we have a good squad to call on and that is always a good thing.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 1 (Panni Nikas 76’)
Central Coast Mariners Academy 0
Saturday 6th April, 2013
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Alec Mouawad and Valerio Bertuccioli
Fourth Official: Sebastien Brennan
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.Nick Littler, 3.Michael Stuart, 6.Matthew Gordon, 7.Nathan Elasi, 9.Brad Boardman (16.Ben Cornish 70’), 10.Jamie McMaster ( 19.Chris Naumoff 22’), 14.Nick Stavroulakis (C), 15.Perry Moustakas, 17.Klim Gjorseski, 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes Not Used: 13.Reo Morinaga, 18.Jayden Koulizakis, 22.Andrew Depta
Yellow Cards: McMaster 16’, Gjorseski 28’, Moustakas 54’
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners Academy: 1.Jordan Nikolovski; 2.Matthew Crowell, 3.Jamie Lobb (C), 4.Adam Jenner, 5.Brady Smith, 6.Christopher Payne (8.Daniel Bragg 57’), 9.James Monie, 10.Adam Biddle 7.Scott Pettit 79’), 11.Louis Bozanic, 24.Nathan Verity (21.Tomislav Cirjak 83’), 26.Mapu Ridge
Substitutes Not Used: 17.Joshua Forbes, 20.Beyhan Irmako
Yellow Cards: Monie 70’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Panni Nikas (SS)
2 – Jamie Lobb (CCMA)
1 – Nick Stavroulakis (SS)
-By Micky Brock
