The Central Coast Mariners have been held to a 2-all draw after Bankstown City converted penalties in each half to ensure honours would be even at full time of the Primo Smallgoods Doug Turnbull Cup at Jensen Park in Sefton tonight.
The Central Coast Mariners have been held to a 2-all draw after Bankstown City converted penalties in each half to ensure honours would be even at full time of the Primo Smallgoods Doug Turnbull Cup at Jensen Park in Sefton tonight.
The Mariners started brightly with Bankstown custodian Zlatko Joseski forced into a fine save after just three minutes to deny Matt Simon, after he was put through by Daniel McBreen, while Danny Vukovic also got an early touch, blocking Robert Mileski who found himself one-on-one.
Just seven minutes in, Shannon Burgin handled in the area after a curling Adam Kwasnik free kick, and Daniel McBreen chalked his second goal in as many games in Yellow and Navy, by blasting the spot kick into the top corner.
A frenetic start saw the hosts equalise in similar fashion, Chris Doig the culprit in the Mariners- 18 yard box, and Tallen Martin scored a goal he-d remember for a long time.
McBreen and Marc Warren both saw long-range shots finish off target, McBreen’s wickedly dipping shot rattling the crossbar, while Warren-s only ended wide after another fine interjection by Joseski, but the visitors did have a second on 26 minutes.
Oliver Bozanic, on his return to the side after three seasons in England, found himself in space in the left channel and calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
John Hutchinson and Kwasnik were also off radar from afar, while a brilliant last-man challenge by Ali Haydar blocked a close range effort by Hutchinson, to ensure the Lions would enter the break just one goal down.
Bojic fired a shot at Joseski early in the second, but the Bankstown shot-stopper couldn-t hold it, and the hosts were fortunate enough to clear the danger.
It was Matt Simon-s turn to test the so far resolute local defence but his glancing header went agonisingly wide, while McBreen also missed a chance to send the Mariners further clear.
Mariners National Youth League and South Coast Wolves ‘keeper Nik Matic, a second half substitute for Vukovic, had to be sharp almost immediately after coming on to block Hassan Akil, while Matthew Lewis and McBreen again saw shots end wide of the target.
It was the hosts though who found the back of the net, albeit in fortuitous circumstances, as Adem Huseyin went down after what appeared to be minimal contact from Gallagher, and duly converted from the spot.
The Mariners side, by now featuring several trialists, peppered the Bankstown goal late on, but were unable to find the back of the net, as the hosts held on for a memorable 2-all draw.
“We battled hard tonight. It was a battling performance rather than a quality performance,” said Mariners Assistant Coach Phil Moss.
“We-re still working hard to try and get some combinations going forward, but defensively I thought our structure was pretty sound, they didn-t have many chances in open play.
“They-re more than halfway through their season so their match fitness is probably better than ours.
“Disappointed to concede two penalties, the second one was very questionable but the first one was pretty clear, but overall, probably what we got out of tonight was match fitness more than anything,” said Moss.
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 7-(pen), Bozanic 26-)
Bankstown City Lions 2 (Martin 15-(pen), Huseyin 79-(pen))
Central Coast Mariners: 20. Danny VUKOVIC (GK) (1. Nik MATIC (GK) 68-), 2. Daniel MCBREEN (26. Justin PEPPER 77-), 4. Pedj BOJIC (24. Mitchell DUKE 64-), 7. John HUTCHINSON (25. Jordan EDWARDS), 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS (27. Max GLANVILLE 77-), 11. Oliver BOZANIC (22. Mustafa AMINI 46-), 15. Marc WARREN (Sam GALLAGHER 46-), 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (C) (5. Brad PORTER 46-), 19. Matt SIMON (12. Matthew LEWIS 64-), 23. Adam KWASNIK (6. Brady SMITH 46-).
Subs not used: None.
Bankstown City Lions: 1. Zlatko JOSESKI (GK), 2 Scott THOMAS (5. Richard LUKSIC 46-), 3. Shannon BURGIN (16. Damian BROSQUE 46-), 9. Hassan AKIL (91. Andrew MERCURI 77-), 10. Robert MILESKI (15. Jonathan CASTANO ACERO 46-), 12. Bill TSANIDIS (87. Adem HUSEYIN 46-), 18. William ANGEL (85. Steven KRSTESKI 46-), 20. Hassan SALAMEH, 23. Tallen MARTIN (86. Steven TIBBETTS 46-), 26. Ibrahim HAYDAR (99. Chris GODOY BASCUR 46-), 80. Ali HAYDAR (84. Troy DANASKOS 46-).
Subs not Used: 1. Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 4. S GRAY, 82. Keunike MARALIT, 83. Joel WAKEFIELD, 88. Anthony MUSUMECI, 94. Trent BARTON, 97. Cameron WHITE.
