All square at Gosford

Perth Glory won their first ever league point against Central Coast Mariners on the road after a 0-0 draw in Friday night’s opening round 16 A-League game at the Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford.

The home side went into the game in scintillating form, scoring nine goals in their last two games, and were back home after five weeks on the road. They made one change to their side that beat North Queensland Fury 5-1 last week with Matthew Crowell replacing Nicky Travis, who dropped to the bench. It was also a big night for Mariners skipper Alex Wilkinson who was playing his 100th A-league appearance.

The Glory made three changes to the side that beat league leaders Sydney FC 2-0 last week with Mile Sterjovski, Victor Sikora and Wayne Srhoj returning to the starting eleven. They replaced the injured Scott Bulloch, while Todd Howarth and Scott Neville dropped to the bench.

The home side were on top early and on six minutes a good run and shot from Michael McGlinchy sailed wide. Moments later Crowell tried his luck from long-range, but his shot was straight at Glory keeper Tando Velaphi.

Glory were on the back foot and the Mariners continue to dominate, and on 17 minutes McGlinchey’s through ball sent former Perth Glory striker Nik Mrdja clear, but Velaphi was out quick to save at his feet.

The best chance of the game fell to the visitors in their first real attacking raid. Srhoj found Sterjovski on the right and his cross picked out Sikora who volleyed over from four-yards.

It was becoming a battle in the middle of the park with Jacob Burns and Srhoj pulling the strings for the Glory, and McGlinchey and Nigel Boogaard doing likewise for the Mariners, but as the half went on the Glory began to get on top.

On 40 minutes a quick free kick from Srhoj found Burns, who sent Jamie Coyne in down the right his dangerous cross was cleared by some desperate defending from Pedi Bojic.

Then sixty seconds later the Glory went within inches of the lead, Adriano Pellegrino’s cross from the right was headed down by Chris Coyne and Sterjovski’s long-range volley beat Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic, but it crashed off the post and away to safety.

The Mariners were the first to threaten in the second half, Adam Kwasnik dinked a ball over the top of the Glory defence sending Mrdja clear, but the striker seemed to hesitate giving Velaphi time to block his attempted chip and Chris Coyne cleared the danger.

Both sides were struggling with their passing game and the newly laid pitch had a lot to do with it, as players ripped divots up after every tackle and pass, but both still pressed forward.

It was the visitors who were creating the better chances and on 51 minutes Sterjovski’s cross from the left found the unmarked Pellegrino at the back post, but his header was well saved by Vukovic.

Mariners Coach Lawrie McKinna brought on Matt Simon to give them some more fire power up front, but it was the Glory who was carving out the chances. A quick break from Srhoj on 67 minutes found Branko Jelic through the middle. He sent Sikora free into the box on right and the Dutchman’s low shot was heading into the corner of the net before Vukovic deflected the ball inches past the far post.

With time running out both sides had chances to win, on 85 minutes a great cross from second half substitute Nicky Travis found Simon at the back post, but the Socceroos striker headed wide when well placed.

In the second minute of injury time the Glory almost snatched the points. A good run down the right by Neville ended with a great ball into Sikora, whose shot was saved by Vukovic.

Then in the last minute of injury time it was the turn of the Mariners to go close. Simon’s picked out Ahmad Elrich 25-yards from goal, his curling shot beat Velaphi but dipped inches over the crossbar.

A good point for the Glory and Coach David Mitchell was pleased to get something from the game. “I thought we had the better chances overall and could have come away with more than the draw,” said Mitchell.

“I’m still very pleased with the performance and to get any points against the Mariners on their home turf is a great effort.

“To keep a clean sheet against a side that has been banging in goals from all over the place was critical and I thought the defence was superb,” added Mitchell.

Both Andy Todd and Chris Coyne were excellent again tonight, and they received special praise from Mitchell for their leadership in the heart of Glory’s defence.

“Andy has been superb all season and was probably underestimated by a lot of people when he arrived. He is a real pro and gives us a focus on the pitch and in the dressing room as well,” said Mitchell.

He continued: “Add to that the great form of Chris Coyne and we have a terrific combination there. The two centre halves have really made a difference to our team.”

Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna had high hopes for his team after it won its previous two matches in style. He was disappointed his team could not score on its long-awaited return to Gosford but not too concerned about the result.

“No goals against, and it’s a point against one of the teams around about us, who are a good side at full strength, so a few positives, but we can improve a lot,” said McKinna.

“They’re a good team, they beat Sydney last week 2-nil, and they had three of their strongest players coming in, so they are a stronger team (tonight), than the team that beat Sydney.

“Danny (Vukovic) made one great save, and the one that he got a toe in off Sikora, but Matty Simon should have done better with the header, we had a few shots from the edge of the box, but we didn’t have clear cut chances,” added McKinna.

A-League Season 2009/10 - Round 16:

Central Coast Mariners drew with Perth Glory 0-all
Crowd: 7,857 @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford. Referee: Gerard Parsons

Central Coast Mariners line-up: 20 Danny Vukovic (gk), 2 Matthew Crowell (22 Nicky Travis 71’), 4 Pedj Bojic, 5 Brad Porter, 7 John Hutchinson, 8 Dean Heffernan, 9 Nik Mrdja (19 Matt Simon 55’), 14 Michael McGlinchey, 16 Nigel Boogaard, 18 Alex Wilkinson (c), 23 Adam Kwasnik (21 Ahmad Elrich 76’). Unused Subs: 1 Andrew Redmayne (GK). Yellow Cards: Heffernan 90’. Red Cards: None.

Perth Glory line-up: 1 Tando Velaphi (GK), 3 Jamie Coyne, 4 Andy Todd, 6 Chris Coyne, 7 Jacob Burns (c), 8 Victor Sikora, 10 Wayne Shroj (28 Tommy Amphlett 79’), 11 Branko Jelic, 16 Adriano Pellegrino, 19 Naum Sekulovski, 21 Mile Sterjovski (12 Scott Neville 84’). Unused Subs: 20 Aleks Vrteski (GK), 17 Todd Howarth. Yellow Cards: Burns 30’, Sterjovski 68’. Red Cards: None.

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