The Central Coast Mariners Academy senior teams both fell to their oppositions at the weekend with the men going down 4-2 to the North Shore Mariners whilst our girls narrowly lost 2-1 in their final.
Thanks to positions on the league ladder, all five women’s teams remain alive in their finals football campaigns.
Central Coast Mariners Academy Women 1 (Phelan) SD Raider 2
In the first week of finals football in NPL 2 land, all of our women’s teams were in action. The weekend started in favour of the Mariners with the 15’s winning their final 3-1 whilst Reserve Grade won 2-1.
Our first-grade girls were tasked with a clash against their bogey side, the SD Raiders, who despite finishing 10 points ahead of on the league ladder, have not beaten this season.
We conceded an early goal but that wouldn’t deter our Mariners. The competition’s leading goal scorer fired back to make it 1-1 when Candice Phelan bagged her 44th goal of the season in the first half.
Locked 1-1 at the break it was a tense second half where Dan Barrett’s girls fought hard to push for the winner, unfortunately it wasn’t to be. SD Raiders scored the only goal of the second half to progress in the NPL competition.
Due to the 14’s, 17’s and first grade finishing in the top three they all remain alive in finals football and ALL five teams continue their journey next week.
Earlier Results:
- U14’s LOST 1-0
- U15’s WON 3-1
- U17’s LOST 2-1
- Reserves WON 2-1
North Shore Mariners 4 Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 (William x 2)
In the senior men’s space the boys were tasked to bounce back against the North Shore Mariners Away from home but in the end, a topsy turvey game finished in favour of North Shore.
Typically, a high-scoring affair between the two Mariners teams, North Shore opened the scoring in the fifth minute to make it 1-0. But the home team’s goal sprung the away team to life who fired back with a goal of their own in the 16th minute. Charles William was the goal scorer who struck a sweet left footer into the back of the net.
North Shore returned serve in the 22nd minute, but it was again Charles William who evened the leger. William had his brace in the 32nd minute which allowed both teams to hit the sheds locked at 2-2.
With both teams battling to get ahead in the second half, the North Shore Mariners scored in the 52nd and 81st minute to make it 4-2 in favour of the home team.
The result sets up a crucial date with Hills United FC this Sunday.
- U18’s LOST 3-0
- U20’s WON 4-0
