He scored one of the goals of the season in a 2-nil win over local rival Newcastle the last time the two sides met, and now, passionate Midfielder John Hutchinson says his side is desperate to finish the regular season on a high, with victory over their old foes the Jets in the F3 Derby tomorrow afternoon.
He scored one of the goals of the season in a 2-nil win over local rival Newcastle the last time the two sides met, and now, passionate Midfielder John Hutchinson says his side is desperate to finish the regular season on a high, with victory over their old foes the Jets in the F3 Derby tomorrow afternoon.
Hutchinson returned to the starting line-up in Wednesday-s clash against Gold Coast United, and with Rostyn Griffiths just one yellow card away from a two game suspension, the foundation Mariner could start again for the Yellow and Navy this time around.
If that proves to be the case, the man who epitomises the rivalry between the two clubs would love nothing more than to send the Jets back up the F3 empty handed.
“It-s good to get a chance to play, obviously I-ve been in and out this season but I can only do my best and hopefully I can get a chance in the finals to keep playing but as I-ve always said Griff has done a great job and I just have to do as much as I can and it is up to Arnie at the end of the day who he feels is more suitable to do the job.
“We want to keep the momentum up for the finals, we already know we will be playing Brisbane which will be a tough two legs, so we want to keep the momentum up. We know we have scored 49 goals and need one more to make 50 (this season) which would be the first time in Mariners history, so the boys are looking forward to the game, and we-re pretty pumped up for it,” Hutchinson said.
With second place already assured, the Mariners could be excused for having one eye on their two-legged non-elimination Grand Final qualifying series with Brisbane Roar in the first two weeks of the Finals Series, but Hutchinson insists victory in the third and final F3 Derby of the season will mean just as much as playoff success.
“We know we-re playing Brisbane but we don-t want to come tomorrow and lose the game, we want a good performance and a good result because you don-t want to go into the finals after losing a game so the boys are pretty pumped, we-re playing (with) a near full strength team and everyone is looking forward to the game,” Hutchinson said.
Needing North Queensland to beat Wellington in tomorrow-s early game to remain a playoffs hope, he Jets- fate will be undecided until moments before kick-off at Bluetongue tomorrow, and Hutchinson hopes that will contribute to an intense atmosphere inside the Stadium.
But the Mariners Members and supporters too will ensure it is an afternoon to remember, with Hutchinson calling on them to turn out in force to celebrate a season which has so far yielded 15 wins, 49 goals and 54 points, making it more successful than any other.
“It-s always good, our fans have been fantastic, the Members and supporters, and we always want to win at home, we don-t want Newcastle to beat us, we know how much it means to the Central Coast people and it means a lot to us, so we want to get the three points and it-s all about momentum for the finals,” said Hutchinson.
As for his sweet strike the last time the two sides met, Hutchinson hopes that proves inspirational to a second F3 Derby victory in 2010/11.
“It was good, I wish it was the winner but I-ll take it at 2-nil. It-s always good to score against Newcastle, there-s plenty of banter between me and them, and I do enjoy that side of the game, I enjoy the crowd niggling at me and it-s a big game, a big Derby for the club and the Central Coast, so hopefully we can put in a good performance and everyone will be happy,” Hutchinson said.
The Central Coast Mariners final home match of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 regular season will be against Newcastle Jets tomorrow, Sunday, 13 February at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford. Kick-off is at 5:00pm AEDT and tickets are available at www.ticketek.com.au or by phoning 132 849.
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2, FS2 HD and Sky Sports 1 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford) and 1233 ABC Newcastle.
Head-to-Head: All matches (played 22): Central Coast Mariners wins 7, Newcastle Jets wins 7 (8 draws)
Central Coast Mariners: 2. Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 24. Bernie IBINI-ISEI, 25. Mitchell DUKE, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk).
*five to be omitted*
In: Pedj BOJIC, Matthew SIMON, Adam KWASNIK, Patricio PEREZ (all return from injury), Rostyn GRIFFITHS (promoted).
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Michael BAIRD (knee – 1 week), Brad PORTER (knee – 4 weeks), Nik MRDJA (knee – 6 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee – season)
Newcastle Jets: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Taylor REGAN, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY (c), 9. Zhang SHUO, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 13. Sasho PETROVSKI, 14. Labinot HALITI, 16. Jeremy BROCKIE, 17. Marcello FIORENTINI, 18. Marko JESIC , 19.Ali ABBAS, 22. Kaz PATAFTA, 23. Ryan GRIFFTHS, 25. Samuel GALLAWAY, 26. James VIRGILI, 28. Mario SIMIC, 31. Jacob PEPPER, 40. Matthew NASH
*five to be omitted*
In: Taylor REGAN (promoted), Kaz PATAFTA (returns from injury), Zhang SHUO (returns from injury), Ryan GRIFFTHS (returns from suspension), Marcello FIORENTINI (returns from suspension)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Michael BRIDGES (knee – six weeks), Sean ROONEY (knee – season), Ben KANTAROVSKI (knee – season), Brodie MOOY (compartment syndrome – season), Kasey WEHRMAN (Foot – four weeks), Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – two weeks)
Referee: Chris Beath
