If you’re looking for a football fix this weekend, Pluim Park is hosting both the men’s and women’s academy fixtures this Sunday as they both play St George FC.
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women vs. St George FC
Dan Barrett’s side will be on the hunt for five wins in a row this Sunday as the girl’s host St George FC in a highly anticipated clash.
The girls secured an impressive 6-2 victory away from home last week and have fired in 23 goals in the past four games. Gabrielle Blanch, Danielle Wise and Jade Mcatamney have been inspiring the young side with Wise netting 8 out of the 23 goals. After a stuttering start to the season, the women have rapidly picked up the pace and have closed the gap with the top 4. Another promising result for the women will see them rise into 4th place depending on other results.
St George have been struggling this NPL 2 season and have only managed the one win. Despite a 4-0 defeat to Nepean FC last week, the side stayed committed and gave it all they had. St George know a win on Sunday will kickstart their season as they aim to separate from the bottom three.
These sides met only recently with the academy girls winning 9-0. Dan Barrett will want a repeat result to please the home faithful.
Head Coach Dan Barrett is pleased with the teams performance.
“What we are seeing currently at the moment is hard work paying off. That’s the only way fortunes change. The players have become a lot more comfortable playing with each other, and the squads understanding has improved greatly” Barrett said.
“We are going for our fifth straight win. The result should see us in the top 5 which is where we need to be come September.
The academy improvement in the last two seasons has been outstanding. Currently all junior sides as well as our reserve grade team all sit in the top 5.
With the transfer window open we are looking to strengthen with some new signings and promotion to some of our academy players into the senior ranks”
Last week’s academy side: Rhiannon Hines (GK), Gabrielle Blanch, Leisel Collins, Nina Collins, Jordyn Drysdale, Jade Mcatamney, Brooke Miller, Kaitlin Murphy, Elizabeth Shorter, Iona Snape, Danielle Wise
Match Details
NSW NPL 2 Women’s Round 13
Match: Central Coast Mariners Academy Women vs. St George FC
Venue: Pluim Park, Lisarow
Kick Off: 3:00pm
Central Coast Mariners Academy vs. St George FC
The men are coming off a disappointing defeat to the Northern Tigers last week and the side will be wanting all three points this time around as St George arrive to do battle.
The academy has been in patchy form for the last several weeks, unable to pick up consecutive wins this season. Despite the form, the side still sit firmly in the top 6 and know a win against the struggling St George will boost the confidence for the boys. Dylan Ruiz-Diaz remains as the squad’s highest goal scorer with 7 for the season with Jordan Smylie not far behind him with 5.
St George picked up their third win of the season last week with a 2-0 victory over Blacktown Spartans. The much needed win saw them put breathing space between them and 14th place Canterbury Bankstown FC. The side will be arriving at the Coast full of confidence and will want to pick up where they left off last week.
These two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first game of the season with Jordan Smylie getting on the scoresheet. The men will be eager to stay in the top 6 and a win will give the academy a major boost to achieve that.
Last week’s academy side: Munford (GK), Hatch, Miller, Vinci, Faust, Johnson, Belkadi, Ruiz-Duiz, Smylie, Taouil, Katsoulis
Match Details
NSW NPL 2 Round 14
Match: Central Coast Mariners Academy vs. St George FC
Venue: Pluim Park, Lisarow
Kick Off: 3:00pm
