NPL Wrap: Men draw with Spirit

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 The Central Coast Mariners Academy teams were in action at the weekend with our men drawing 1-1 at home and the women falling 1-0 away to Nepean FC.

 Central Coast Mariners Academy 1 (Peters 9’) GHFA Spirit 1 (Carle 25’)

The Mariners couldn’t have asked for a better start in their match up against Spirit who opened the scoring immediately thanks to a strike by Emmanuel Peters in the ninth minute.

However, Spirit were unperturbed by the formidable fortress that Pluim Park has become this season, working their way back into the game and finding the equaliser less than 20 minutes later. Andre Carle fired a shot that dribbled over the line and into the back of the net.

Although the best defence in the league dealt confidently with Spirit’s threat, never really looking like allowing David Perkovic’s side to head home with anything more than a solitary point. There wasn’t a goal in the second half tug-of-war which ended 1-1.

The result sees the Mariners remain in top spot on the Club Championship.

Neapean FC Women 1 (Trovato) Central Coast Mariners Academy Women 0

Nepean FC edged out Central Coast Mariners, 1-nil to keep their chances of finals football alive on a cold Cook Park evening thanks to a superb strike from Nepean’s Stefanie Trovato.

Blunting a dangerous attack like Central Coast isn’t an easy task, the Yellow and Navy have weapons across the park, so Nepean FC needed some heroic performances from their keeper to maintain a clean sheet.

For the Mariners, it was the first time their attack has been kept scoreless this season and they remain in second spot on the Club Championship standings.