The goals may not exactly be flowing for Central Coast Mariners striker Dylan Macallister at the moment, but the imposing forward is confident that when one comes, plenty more will follow.
The goals may not exactly be flowing for Central Coast Mariners striker Dylan Macallister at the moment, but the imposing forward is confident that when one comes, plenty more will follow.
After returning from off-season shoulder surgery, Macallister suffered another minor injury setback early in the campaign, but has since returned to full fitness, resulting in consistent performances, which he hopes will translate into goals.
“I-ve had a couple of games now in the first eleven, and with two good 90 minutes under my belt I-m feeling really confident and enjoying my football.
“The chances are coming and one will go in sooner or later, and then hopefully I can get a few more. I-m enjoying myself at the moment, and it should be a big one on Monday,” Macallister said.
The Central Coast has conceded just four goals so far this campaign, but prior to the 3-nil demolition of the Gold Coast had only scored five.
According to Macallister, that victory helped the Mariners forward line believe it can be an attacking force.
“We really saw that (the 3-nil win over the Gold Coast) as a turning point for us. Playing against one of the big sides, they-d done well and had come out and said they weren-t going to lose all season, so to come out and beat them 3-nil, and to score some good goals and to create a lot of chances for the team, it was really quite a special game for us.
“We-re working really hard in training, and hopefully we can get a big crowd there on Monday. Last year-s game at the (Sydney Football) Stadium was a special one, it was 3-all, and it was exciting, hopefully we can put on a good show again,” Macallister said.
The positive for the Central Coast-s frontline is that chances are being created, and at the other end, opponents are getting few opportunities to break down what is fast becoming the League-s most resolute defence.
“We copped a lot of flack during the second part of last season for not winning games and conceding a lot of goals, and the Champions League wasn-t too good for us either, so to start this season as well as we have is credit to the boys and shows how hard we worked in pre-season.
“We have a lot of fit players at the moment with not many injuries, we have a lot of confidence, and I-m sure it will continue on Monday,” said Macallister.
A true test of those defensive capabilities will come on Monday against Sydney FC, and Macallister is relishing the chance to face up to his hometown club, having scored the first goal in a 2-1 triumph over the Sky Blues last December.
“Playing against Sydney is a game I always look forward to. They are supposedly a benchmark this year and have started off well, as have we. It was a stalemate here at Bluetongue earlier in the season, and I think this game is shaping up to be a clash of the titans.
“Both teams are doing really well at the moment, playing attacking football, and we have conceded hardly any goals at all so our defence is really quite strong as well, which could be the key, and I think the Mariners will get up on this one,” Macallister said.
The Mariners next home match of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season will be against North Queensland Fury on Sunday, 11 October. Kick-off is at 3:00pm. Tickets for this match are available online here or by phoning 132 849.
Mariners Memberships for the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season are now available online by clicking here or by phoning 1300 767 442.
