After a hugely successful 2018 NPL season for the Mariners Academy that saw our young guns edge agonisingly close to promotion, the Yellow & Navy will be looking to go one step further this season.
The NPL 2 NSW Men’s 2019 season opener sees our Academy side travel to Rockdale to take on St George.
After a hugely successful 2018, @DanBarrett77 & the women's academy program return, determined to go one step further in 2019! ?#NPLNSW Season Preview ? https://t.co/yuxawxJHbJ pic.twitter.com/rPCXucgZx5
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) February 26, 2019
The Academy showed good form during the Foxtel Y-League season and will want to continue the trend as they start their hunt for not only promotion, but also make the most of the opportunity to earn consistent game time.
In the transition from Foxtel Y-League to NPL, the Mariners Academy will also be buoyed by an impressive trial game victory that saw them defeat NPL 1 outfit Blacktown City, 4-3.
After leading the young Mariners during the Y-League season, Michael Glassock continues his captaincy for the NPL season and his leadership at the back will be a telling point as the Mariners aim to start the season off with a win.
With the #NPLNSW season just weeks away, we caught up with #CCMFC Academy Head Coach, Ray Junna.
NPL Countdown: Fixtures, squad & transition from #YLeague ℹ️ https://t.co/oKRyYelug2 pic.twitter.com/oSfnm9Y2Dq
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) February 12, 2019
It’s the first competitive NPL game with Head Coach Ray Junna at the helm who coached a largely similar Mariners team to a successful Foxtel Y-League season with five wins from eight games.
It’s a tough opponent for round one, a St George outfit who finished second on the league ladder last season (two points above the Mariners) and eventually went on to win the Grand Final in a penalty shoot-out over Mounties Wanderers. A familiar face awaits the Mariners in Matias Paz who last season, played for the Mariners Academy.
Match Details
Saturday, 2 March 2019
NSW NPL 2 Round 1
Match: St George FC vs Central Coast Mariners Academy
Venue: Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Kick-off: 7:00pm
