Mariners sink in scorching derby

The Central Coast Mariners conceded their second derby defeat to northern rivals the Newcastle Jets today – 3-1 in front of a record Novocastrian crowd at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Two rapid-fire goals to Mark Bridge and Nick Carle had the Mariners on the back foot early, before Damian Mori netted his fifth goal of the Hyundai A-League season with only minutes remaining in the first half.

Substitute Milton Rodriguez restored the Jets’ two goal advantage late in the second half to secure the three points for the home side and condemn the visitors to their first defeat in five outings.

"It was always going to be tough for us, going behind to two early goals, but I thought we did well to get ourselves back in the game before half time," said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna.

"Up until their third goal, we still looked good for at least a draw, but, in the end, we couldn’t land that killer blow and that’s what cost us today."

McKinna made three changes to the side that drew away to Hyundai A-League leaders the Melbourne Victory one week previous, with Damien Brown, Tony Vidmar and Mile Jedinak all promoted at the expense of Noel Spencer, Vuko Tomasevic and an injured Tom Pondeljak.

Spencer’s absence handed Alex Wilkinson the captain’s armband for the first time, though the incumbent Mariners skipper did not have to wait long to contribute from the bench – replacing Paul O’Grady on 32 minutes after the giant defender was forced from the field with a potentially season-ending groin injury.

Barely six minutes had passed before the Jets had taken the lead, with youth international striker Bridge volleying home a well placed Matthew Thompson cross to net Newcastle’s quickest derby goal of all time.

By the quarter hour, the Jets were two goals to the good, after some neat interplay on the fringe of the penalty box saw Carle presented with a one-on-one chance against Mariners custodian Danny Vukovic, who was helpless to stop the Newcastle playmaker from doubling the home side’s advantage.

Mori’s reply, his twelfth Hyundai A-League goal, was surely one of the best of his contribution to the new football era.

With his back to goal, Mori rose some fifteen metres from goal to glance a looping header from a Wayne O’Sullivan cross past Jets ‘keeper Ben Kennedy – providing a glimmer of hope for the noteworthy contingent wearing yellow amongst the 14,026 on hand.

The Mariners went on to dominate much of the second half, without seriously threatening the Newcastle goal.

However, for all their possession and territorial advantage, the Mariners’ hopes of a comeback were dealt a fatal blow with eleven minutes to play.

Rodriguez, who just eight minutes earlier had replaced fellow goal scorer Bridge, struck a free kick into an empty net after some assistance from the Mariners wall, which unwittingly ballooned the Columbian import’s effort past a stranded Vukovic.

"We’re almost at the end of a very tough month away from home and we’re a little behind where we’d like to be, it’s up to us now to string some more wins together, starting with next Sunday against the Knights," said McKinna.

"We’ve been dealt another blow today with O’Grady’s injury, but there’s positive news to come with Gumprecht, Pondeljak, Clark, and Osman not too far away from returning."

The Mariners now sit in sixth place on the Hyundai A-League ladder after twelve rounds, three points away from the top four, with seven of their remaining nine matches to be played at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium.

The Mariners next travel to North Harbour Stadium for their penultimate away trip of the season against the New Zealand Knights on Sunday, 19 November. Kick off is at 3pm AEDT.

Team Line-Ups

Newcastle Jets:
Ben Kennedy (gk), Steve Eagleton (Steven Old 77’), Jade North, Matthew Thompson, Vaughan Coveny, Nick Carle, Paul Okon, Stuart Musialik, Joel Griffiths (Labinot Haliti 86’), Mark Bridge (Milton Rodriguez 71’), Paul Kohler. Subs not used: Ivan Necevski (gk). Yellow Cards: Carle 53’, North 61’.

Central Coast Mariners:
Danny Vukovic (gk), Wayne O’Sullivan, Paul O’Grady (Noel Spencer 32’), Jamie McMaster (Bradley Porter 79’), Damien Brown, Stewart Petrie (John Hutchinson 69’), Tonv Vidmar, Alex Wilkinson, Adam Kwasnik, Mile Jedinak, Damian Mori. Subs not used: Matthew Trott (gk). Yellow Cards: Petrie 19’, Brown 58’, Vidmar 78’.

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