Central Coast Mariners’ Academy midfielder, Ryan Peterson previews Sunday’s match up against the Western Sydney Wanderers Academy at Pluim Park.
It’s been an exciting 12 months for Ryan Peterson who has a full Foxtel National Youth League campaign to his name as well as this season’s stint with the Mariners Academy where he has experienced a prime run of form in the PS4 NPL 2.
The 20-year-old has played his hand in a number of goals this season, catching the eye of Tony Walmsley and earned a call up to regular training with the Hyundai A-League squad.
Peterson is enjoying his time on the Central Coast and is looking forward to the club’s battle against Western Sydney Wanderers this weekend.
“You always want to push yourself to become a better player and training with the A-League boys gives me an opportunity to improve as a player,” Peterson said. “At the end of the day this is where I want to be so hopefully these are small steps towards getting in with these boys full time and getting a contract for next season.
“The Wanderers are a young, energetic side who will try to play good football. For us it’s about being disciplined under pressure as we showed last time against them in the first half to go up 2-0, unfortunately that game didn’t end so well but it’s important to get results heading into the end of the season.
The former Blacktown City man spoke highly of his time with the Central Coast Mariners Academy and his Coach, Ben Cahn who joined the Mariners for the first time this season.
“This season with the academy has been excellent, our results have been up and down but under the tutelage of Ben Cahn, all of us players can look at ourselves and say we’ve really improved individually and as a team,” Peterson said.
“It’s important to get big minutes in the legs and this is a great place to be a young player in the sense that you can get opportunities with the first team but you need to play minutes each week, it’s a tough balance but a good one.
Peterson commutes to the Central Coast from Sydney but admitted that a permanent move to the Central Coast could be on the cards.
“Everyone says the Central Coast Mariners is a family, community club that looks after you and it’s very true. It’s a bit of a drive but as soon as I get up here I feel welcome, it’s a beautiful place to live and maybe one day I’ll be calling Terrigal home,” Peterson said.
Kick-off times are – Mens: 11am (18s), 1pm (20s) and 3pm (first grade) vs. the Wanderers and the women kick off at 9:30, 10:55, 12:30, 2:05 vs. Nepean FC at Pluim Park, Lisarow.
