The Central Coast Mariners have moved to equal second spot on the National Youth League ladder, following a convincing 5-2 thrashing of Brisbane Roar overnight.
The Central Coast Mariners have moved to equal second spot on the National Youth League ladder, following a convincing 5-2 thrashing of Brisbane Roar overnight.
Bernie Ibini Isei and Mitchell Mallia both picked up a brace of goals each, while Trent Sainsbury also chipped in, and Hyundai A-League starlet Mustafa Amini proved a major thorn in the Roar-s side for his hour on the pitch in temperatures upward of 30 degrees.
“I thought we were a little bit slow out of the blocks in the first half but we were good enough to still take a 3-1 lead into the break, and we improved as the match went on to come away with another good win,” said Mariners Head Coach Tony Walmsley.
“We had a few good chances in the last 15 minutes where we could have really put the nail in the coffin, and it would have been nice to have converted some of those, but overall I-m happy to have got the three points.”
Both sides went on the attack from the outset, pushing high up the field in the hope of an early breakthrough.
After 20 minutes the Mariners thought they had made the breakthrough when Nick Fitzgerald tapped in from the far post; however the assistant referee ruled him offside.
The disallowed goal only seemed to inspire the Mariners, who were rewarded for their consistent pressure in the 22nd minute when Bernie Ibini-Isei capitalised on some indecision within the Roar Youth defence, blasting home from close range.
The tall Central Coast striker easily shed his marker to collect a deadly a through ball before calmly dispatching his powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net.
The Roar Youth looked to fight back straight away, and Matt Thurtell levelled the scores in the 30th minute.
The see- sawing match took another turn in the 40th minute when the Mariners unleashed a quick counter attack through Mitchell Duke who provided another deft pass for Ibini-Isei to hammer the ball past the Roar ‘keeper Andrew Redmayne, taking his and the Mariners tally to two.
While the Roar looked to consolidate their position in the final moments before the break, it was again the Mariners who continued to dominate, with Trent Sainsbury adding a third goal for the away side when the defender found himself unmarked and in position in the penalty area.
With the Mariners holding a 3-1 lead at the start of the second half, the Roar Youth looked to mount their comeback early on with Head Coach John Sime bringing on attacking players Josh Groenewald and Josh McVey, hoping the fresh legs would bring some added spark to his side.
The changes had an early impact with McVey and Groenewald-s energy proving to be troublesome for the Mariners defence, none more so that in the 50th minute when McVey-s lead up play giving Visconte time to deliver a pinpoint cross to Alastair Quinn; however the midfielder couldn-t finish sending his shot just wide of the post.
It was McVey-s desperation in the 64th that lead to the Roar-s second goal, a combination of hard work and luck giving Groenewald his first goal for the Roar Youth this season.
Introduced just after the break, Mallia fired the Mariners further ahead on 80 minutes, before adding insult to injury only minutes later when he once again found the back of the net, breaking free to tap home at the far post giving the Mariners an unassailable 5-2 lead and the win.
“It was very hot today and the humidity was quite sapping, so I took Musti off after an hour but he was brilliant when he was on there, as was Matthew Lewis, Nick Fitzgerald, Jimmy Oates and Bernie who was rewarded with another two goals for his tally.
“I am happy for the boys with two good victories on the bounce now, and it sets things up nicely with a big game against Sydney this weekend to hopefully get second spot on our own.”
Match Details
Brisbane Roar 2 (Thurtell 30-, Groenwald 64-)?
Central Coast Mariners 5 (Ibini-Isei 22-/41-, Trent Sainsbury 45-+2, Mallia 80-/81-)?
Brisbane Roar line-up: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 3.Alastair QUINN, 4. Matthew BYRNE, 5. Daniel BOWLES, 7.Christopher BUSH (C), 8.James DONACHIE, 9. Matthew THURTELL (11. Josh MCVEY 46-), 10. Jacob MCLEAN (6. Joshua GROENWALD 46-), 12. Kenneth DOUGALL (14. Ross ARCHIBALD 58-), 13. Dane MILOVANOVIC, 15. Rocco VISCONTE.
Substitutes not used: 20. Matt ACTON (gk)
Yellow Cards: Dane MILOVANOVIC 75-
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 3. Jerry KALOURIS (17. Sam GALLAGHER 46-), 4. Alexander MANSUETO, 5. James OATES, 6. Sam MUNRO (C), 8. Nicholas FITZGERALD, 9. Bernie IBINI-ISEI (11.Mitchell MALLIA 48-), 10. Mitchell DUKE, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Mustafa AMINI (7.Brendan GRIFFIN 60-), 15. Trent SAINSBURY, 20. David BRADASEVIC (gk).
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Nik MATIC (GK)
Yellow Cards: James OATES 74-
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Alan MILLINER
