Brent Griffiths’ second half goal direct from a Michael McGlinchey corner wasn’t enough to prevent Central Coast Mariners from going down 2-1 to Newcastle Jets in Tamworth on Sunday.
Brent Griffiths- second half goal direct from a Michael McGlinchey corner wasn-t enough to prevent Central Coast Mariners from going down 2-1 to Newcastle Jets in Tamworth on Sunday.
Craig Goodwin netted twice in the first 45 to provide his team with a handy lead, before Griffiths got a goal back for Graham Arnold-s team in Australia-s country music capital shortly after the hour mark.
Goodwin-s first of the game came in the 19th minute when he struck a right foot shot on the half-volley beyond Liam Reddy.
Just four minutes later, Goodwin scored a diving header from a precise Scott Neville cross.
Most of the Mariners- best chances came in the second stanza, with diminutive New Zealander Michael McGlinchey flashing a shot across the face of goal just five minutes after the restart.
McGlinchey was integral to Central Coast-s only goal of the game in the 65th minute, as he sent a sweet corner into the area which Griffiths thundered into the back of the net to bring the Mariners back into the contest.
Arnold-s experimental team in Tamworth almost equalised late in the game, however two crucial blocks from Jets defender Taylor Regan ensured Gary van Egmond-s charges won the friendly encounter at Scully Park.
Despite the defeat, Arnold was ecstatic with the hit-out against the Jets in Tamworth.
“Obviously we have half of our squad still in Indonesia, so for us it was an opportunity to give all our boys 90 minutes before the first game of the season against Western Sydney Wanderers,” he said.
“It was a great hit-out and we now have 21 players who have played a full 90 minutes against quality opposition before our first match.”
“It also gave us the opportunity to give our young boys a game against a Hyundai A-League team, so they can see the level that they need to get to.”
Newcastle Jets 2 (Goodwin 19-, 23-)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Griffiths 65-)
Scully Park, Tamworth
Central Coast Mariners are in action again these evening in the Final of the 2013 Menpora Cup in Malang, Indonesia.
The squad to face Arema FC at Kanjuruhan Stadion is: 1. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 3. Joshua Rose, 5. Zachary Anderson, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 8. Nick Montgomery, 10. Marcos Flores, 11. Nick Fitzgerald, 15. Storm Roux, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 19. Matt Simon, 21. Mile Sterjovski, 22. Tom Slater
Sunday 29 September
Arema Indonesia vs. Central Coast Mariners – 2013 Menpora Cup Final
Kanjuruhan Stadion, Malang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 6:00pm local (9:00pm AEST)
Watch Live: okezone.tv/streaming/3 (Free)
