Mariners seek Sefton success

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Central Coast Mariners will travel to Jensen Park, Sefton this Wednesday night for to battle Bankstown City Lions in the second edition of the annual Doug Turnbull Cup.



Central Coast Mariners will travel to Jensen Park, Sefton this Wednesday night to battle Bankstown City Lions in the second edition of the annual Doug Turnbull Cup.

Last June the Yellow and Navy played out a 2-all draw with their hosts to share the inaugural Cup founded in memoriam of Lions stalwart, the late Doug Turnbull, who was also the brother of Mariners Chairman Peter Turnbull.

On that occasion, first half goals to Daniel McBreen and Oliver Bozanic were cancelled out by two Bankstown City penalties either side of the break.

With Wednesday-s match representing the Mariners first full pre-season hit out in the lead up to Hyundai A-League season seven, Head Coach Graham Arnold said he is looking for his team to find the fluidity and cohesion he expects leading into the season proper.

“I always emphasise for our boys that we need to concentrate on what we can do and our performance,” Arnold said.

“We need to get our combinations in order and get our match fitness, and that-s what we-ll be looking for on Wednesday night.”

Despite Bankstown City rounding our their New South Wales Premier League season with defeat at the hands of Sutherland Sharks at Jensen Park on Sunday, Arnold predicted the Lions would offer a stern test to his squad which he is likely to rotate throughout the 90 minutes.

“They (Bankstown) are in match rhythm and fitness, and they are coming off the end of their season,” Arnold said. “There-s a bit up for grabs with the Doug Turnbull Cup, so it will be a good test for us on Wednesday night.”

Indeed, Mariners Chairman Peter Turnbull explained that Wednesday-s contest named in honour of his late brother would be a special affair for his family.

Having signed his first professional contract with Bankstown at 16, Peter Turnbull said his brother Doug was a member of what the press of the time called the ‘Bankstown Babes-.

“In his era of the 1960s and 70s Bankstown played against the grand old names of Australian football such as Prague, APIA, Hakoah and St George Budapest,” Turnbull said. “Doug was a stalwart of Bankstown football.”

Kick-off in the Doug Turnbull Cup is scheduled for 7:30pm.

Meanwhile, the Mariners will also play Illawarra Premier League Champions Dandaloo Lions this Sunday at John Crehan Park, Cringila.

This match will kick-off at 5pm, with Central Coast travelling south to the Illawarra region on Saturday afternoon.