The Central Coast Mariners Westfield W-League side enters its Round 2 encounter against Adelaide United this Sunday on a high, following the opening round demolition of the highly fancied Sydney FC.
The Central Coast Mariners Westfield W-League side enters its Round 2 encounter against Adelaide United this Sunday on a high, following the opening round demolition of the highly fancied Sydney FC.
The Mariners were immense throughout the 90 minute showing at the Sydney Football Stadium and Stephen Roche-s side will be hoping to add a first-up home victory at Bluetongue Stadium this Sunday.
One player who is certainly living a positive moment of form is two-goal star Michelle Heyman. The Mariners- striker was colossal in the opening match of the season.
“It was just an amazing feeling, the girls put together such a huge effort at training and it paid off in the match.
“All the hard work from training in the pre-season, and the girls just gave 110% percent – the final result showed,” said Heyman.
The Mariners Women didn-t have everything their own way at the Sydney Football Stadium as the Sky Blues – who possess a star-studded squad of Matildas and International talent – did pressure Roche-s side throughout the encounter, though led by a strong central defensive pairing of Caitlin Cooper and Rachael Doyle, the side proved they will be a force in 2009.
“We really played as a team.
“Defensively, anything that came through, the girls picked up, we all scrambled together and we worked really hard as a team, communicating very well which really helped as we pulled through to get the win,” said Heyman.
The past twelve months have been a very busy time for the striker following her debut in W-League Season One with Sydney FC, before returning to the State League to win the NSW Arrive Alive Women-s Premier League title earlier this year with the Illawarra Sting Rays.
The double strike against her former club though, was very sweet indeed.
“It is an amazing feeling (to score against Sydney FC),” said the Mariners- striker whom made only three appearances for Sydney FC in 2008.
“I didn-t get too much of a chance with Sydney FC last season, so scoring against them for Central Coast Mariners is just amazing.
“I am really grateful to the coach (Stephen Roche) for giving me the opportunity to play in my position and, again, I am really happy for the goals,” said Heyman.
Adelaide United FC pay visit to Gosford this Sunday after their opening Round scoreless draw against Newcastle Jets, though Heyman is quietly confident that her teammates can continue to build on their performances.
“This season is promising to be something special, I can-t wait for the next match and the girls are really looking forward to it.
“We-ll look to keep our feet on the floor, though the feeling amongst everyone is really good at the moment,” Heyman said.
Heyman-s ambitions extend beyond the W-League with a potential call-up to a Matildas training camp something that she is really striving hard for.
“For me personally, I hope to continue along this form and put away some more goals to potentially get into a position to make a Matildas camp, I-d really like the opportunity for that, I guess we will have to see how the season goes,” said Heyman.
The Central Coast Mariners next match of the Westfield W-League season will be against Adelaide United this Sunday, 11 October, as part of a double header at Bluetongue Stadium. Kick-off is at 12:15pm, with the Mariners- Hyundai A-League side taking on North Queensland Fury at 3pm.
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. 442.
