The comeback spirit of the Central Coast Mariners’ Hyundai A-League campaign was evident in the National Youth League (NYL) at Budgewoi’s Frank Millington Field today, where the yellow and navy fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Perth Glory.
The comeback spirit of the Central Coast Mariners- Hyundai A-League campaign was evident in the National Youth League (NYL) at Budgewoi-s Frank Millington Field today, where the yellow and navy fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Perth Glory.
Having conceded first half goals against the run of play to Anthony Skorich and then an own goal from Andrew Clark, the home side replied with a pair of second half strikes from Nigel Boogaard and Ty Owens to walk away with a point.
The share of the spoils was no less than the Mariners deserved for one of their most convincing NYL showings of the campaign, where the Central Coast-s fortunes in front of goal could most adequately be described as luckless.
Following the early send off of Glory Hyundai A-League talent David Tarka, the Mariners dominated the remainder of the first half and continued to assert their authority throughout the second, only to come up short time after time with the final touch.
NYL debutant Daniel Taylor combined well with captain Brady Smith up front and was unlucky not to give the Mariners an early advantage, before Skorich headed home on the back of a rare attacking advance by the visitors on 22 minutes.
Smith, standout midfielder Matthew Lewis and Ashley Balcomb each came close before Clark skewed a header into his own net from a corner midway through the half to send the Glory to the break with a barely believable two-goal advantage.
With Clark-s Hyundai A-League team-mate Boogaard pulling the strings in a new-look central midfield role along with fellow senior contributor Greg Owens, the Mariners always looked likely to pull back the deficit and that they did through the former shortly after the hour mark.
The younger brother of Greg Owens, Ty Owens, chose an opportune time to slot his opening goal of the NYL campaign with twenty minutes to play – his neat finish from close range squaring the ledger and making for a frantic final segment.
Substitutes Sean Mitchell and Glen Trifiro each tested Glory custodian Alex Pearson in the closing stages, with Mitchell in particular denied by a spectacular one handed save after unleashing a fierce volley from the fringe of the penalty area in stoppage time.
The 2-2 draw is the Mariners- second stalemate of the campaign and moves the yellow and navy to outright fifth place on the NYL ladder – seven points adrift of an unlikely Grand Final berth with five matches still to play.
“Today was just one of those days where it didn-t seem as though the ball would bounce our way, but I-m no less encouraged by the spirit shown by the team to fight back from two goals down to take a point,” said Mariners NYL Head Coach Alex Tobin after the match.
“Some of the general play and attacking movement that we showed throughout the ninety minutes was among the best that we-ve produced this season and, on another day we might have finished off at least one more of the chances that we created and won the game.
“We-ll take a point though, learn another lesson and look to improve further over the remaining five matches.”
The Mariners- National Youth League campaign continues on Saturday, 10 January when they host the second placed Queensland Roar at Bluetongue Stadium. Kick off is at 4pm.
Tickets for this match are on sale from Ticketek outlets, from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 30. Andrew Redmayne (gk) (1. Matthew Nemes (gk) 46-), 2. Steven Tibbetts, 7. Matthew Lewis, 8. Andrew Clark, 9. Brady Smith, 12. Scott Wright (6. Ty Owens 59-), 13. Ashley Balcomb (17. Sean Mitchell 59-), 14. Greg Owens, 15. Paul O-Grady, 16. Nigel Boogaard, 21. Daniel Taylor (10. Glen Trifiro 59-)
Yellow Cards Balcomb 57-
Red Cards None
Goals Boogaard 62-, Ty Owens 71-
Perth Glory 1. Dejan Aleksic (gk) (40. Alex Pearson (gk) 62-), 5. Steven Hesketh, 6. Dean Evans, 7. James Sammut (12. Reece Vittiglia 62-), 9. Anthony Skorich (16. Eli Babalj 62-), 10. Adam Luca (8. Howard Fondyke 62-), 11. Ryan Pearson, 13. Andrija Jukic, 14. Liam Harvey, 17. Mark Lee, 18. David Tarka
Yellow Cards Ryan Pearson 86-
Red Cards Tarka 14-
Goals Skorich 22-, Clark 29-OG
Referee Brett Hookham
