Central Coast Mariners will take on Blacktown City in a preparation match for their forthcoming clash with Scottish heavyweights Glasgow Celtic this Wednesday night.
Central Coast Mariners will take on Blacktown City in a preparation match for their forthcoming clash with Scottish heavyweights Glasgow Celtic this Wednesday night.
Kicking off at 6:45pm at Blacktown-s Lily Homes Stadium in Seven Hills, the game will mark the first time new Mariners recruits Justin Pasfield, Adriano Pellegrino and Brad McDonald take to the field for the Yellow and Navy.
Having not played a competitive match since early February, goalkeeper Pasfield said he is eager to pull on the gloves for his new team in the training fixture.
“It-s been a little while since I-ve been out there, so I-m looking for to it,” Pasfield said. “It-s important for all the players to get a game under their belt leading into the Celtic match.”
Wet weather around the Central Coast region has somewhat interrupted the Mariners preseason to date, with the team being forced indoors on a number of occasions.
Despite the disruptions, Pasfield said the clubs- coaching staff had been working the team hard with a focus on fitness and possession leading into the international friendly with ‘the Bhoys- at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 2 July.
Pasfield also stated the guidance he-s receiving from the coaching staff at the Mariners is better than anywhere he-s plied his trade.
“I didn-t have a goalkeeping coach in North Queensland, so it-s not even comparable to be honest,” Pasfield said. “I-m working with the best there are in the country with JC (John Crawley), Mossy (Phil Moss) and Arnie (Graham Arnold).”
Five weeks into the Mariners 2011/12 schedule, Head Coach Graham Arnold gave a glowing report of Pasfield and his other new signings.
“They-ve fitted in very well – I-m big on the team building side of things and team morale, and they-ve fit in perfect,” Arnold said. “They were first team players at the clubs they-ve come from, so I-m looking forward to fitting them into our system and the way we play.”
Arnold said the match against Blacktown, as well as an 11 vs. 11 intra-club trial on Friday were critical stepping-stones leading into what he labeled as his “teams goal” – a win against Celtic in 12 days time.
Details:
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Blacktown City vs. Central Coast Mariners
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Kick-off – 6:45pm
Admission – Free
