The Mariners PS4 NPL 2 Women earned a gutsy 1-1 draw against the Marconi Stallions away from home this weekend in round four of the competition.
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women 1 (Candice Phelan 11’) Marconi Stallions FC Women 1 (Aleisha Clifford 75’)
The Mariners WPL headed to Marconi Staium on Sunday May 7 2017 to face a highly-credentialed Stallions team.
It was a confronting trip to Marconi Stadium against a Stallion’s teamsheet bursting with experience that included current Westfield W-League players.
From the whistle Head Coach Mark Yule screamed the game plan urging the Mariners Women to maintain intensity. The early stage was an arm wrestle with end-to-end play from both sides.
The 11th minute saw a constructed Mariners raid down the left side. A perfect ball from Jess Terry found Candice Phelan who made no mistake giving the Mariners an early lead.
The remainder of the half was a tight battle with some, at times, desperate last line defence, none better than that shown by Mariners Captain Oriana Keane who was strong and uncompromising, supported at the back by Georgia Davis, Katie Oliveira and Letisha Waddell.
The Mariners went into the sheds at half time with a well-earned 1-0 lead.
Yule spoke of maintaining the intensity and remarked “We worked really hard as a unit in defence. We were compact and desperate,” Yule said.
The class of the Marconi outfit was evident in the mid stages of the game who sustained pressure on the Mariners defence.
In the 75th minute Marconi were awarded a free-kick way outside the Mariners 18-yard-box. An earlier long range shot by Marconi’s W-League player Alesha Clifford had rocketed off the cross bar but this time she would not be denied and cleverly lofted the ball, giving Mariners keeper Jess Schultz no chance.
The game ended in a 1-1 draw, a just reward for the effort of both sides.
Yule commented “Their pressure eventually told in the middle period. I am very pleased with how we finished on top in the last 15 minutes. We never let them have anything other than long range attempts,” Yule said.
Next week sees the Mariners Women return to Pluim Park taking on Inter Lions SC with the under 13s starting at 8.30am and First Grade kicking off at 3pm. Entry is free.
Match stats
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women: 1.Jess Schulz (GK), 4.Georgia Davis, 8.Oriana Keane (c), 3.Christine Granero (14 Grace Bryant),10.Kate Duffy (13.Jade Kroemer), 6.Jade Mcatamney, 9.Candice Phelan, 2.Jess Terry (7 Gabrielle Blanch), 15.Madelyn Ryan, 5.Letisha Waddell, 12.Katie Oliveira
Unused subs: 10 Jessica Hines, 40 Sophie Coyte
Yellow cards: Oriana Keane
Head Coach: Mark Yule
Marconi Stallions FC Women: 4.Jacqueline Anyon-Smith, 8.Ceyda Cambaz, 13.Vanessa Ciabatti, 14..Alesha Clifford, 3.Mia Conners, 1.Jessica Daymond, 12.Sarah Hicking, 17.Amanda Lauric, 5.Helen Petinos, 10.Emma Voloder, 2.Hannah Voloder, 18.Kalinda Wills, 24.Melina Manna, 27.Kayla Spurway, 15.Jamie Anyon-Smith
Referee: Brad Shorrock
CCMA WPL Earlier results
- Under 13 CCMA 2 MSFC 4
- Under 15 CCMA 0 MSFC 4
- Under 17 CCMA 2 MSFC 0
- Reserves CCMA 1 MSFC 3
