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Stajcic ready to hit the ground running in FFA Cup

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On the eve of the FFA Cup we hear from Head Coach Alen Stajcic and take a look at two teams who are eager to progress to the next stage. Kick-off at Maitland No. 1 Sportsground is 7:30pm.  

After two pre-season games for Alen Stajcic’s Mariners, the game against Maitland is their first competitive clash of a new campaign.

The high-flying match fit Maitland sit in fourth position on the NPL Northern NSW ladder, just five points behind top of the table Edgeworth Eagles.

Stajcic in the media

The importance of the FFA Cup…
“It’s been a good pre-season so far,” Stajcic said. “Five to six weeks’ worth of training now. Couple of friendlies, so we know how important tomorrow is & we’re ready to hit the ground running.

“Every game is important for us and we’ve made that a major talking point of our team that every friendly, FFA Cup, A-League game we’re going to be approaching in the same manner so regardless of the competition or the level of the match. Whether it’s a friendly or A-League match we are approaching it the same way and this game tomorrow night against Maitland will be no different, we will be approaching it as if it’s a final. We just want to ensure that we’re approaching the game with a winning mentality and trying to hit the ground running.

Fresh faces for FFA Cup Football…
“It’s important to get that team chemistry going and the team cohesion and we’ve done really well in both of those pre-season matches. We’ve improved as the matches have gone on and we’ve improved as training has gone on as well, so I’m really happy where we’re at. We know there’s a long way to go, in terms of where we want to get to but we’re certainly at a good point at the moment.

“The team has really bonded well, they’re gelling well, they’re getting on together off the field, on the field the chemistry is getting there and the cohesion as I mentioned little bit earlier. But you know the things that matter the most are the actual matches and this is a really big match for us to see how far we’ve come and to give us a good report card on where we are five or six weeks into our pre-season.

The might of Maitland FC…
“They’ve been a strong consistent side over the last two or three months. 10 or 11 matches without losing up until last week against Edgeworth. They’ve got some key players in their team as well. We know Matt Thompson well and obviously Nick Cowburn moved there as well, so we know they have got a sprinkling of class along with a team that’s shown great team spirit, so we know we’re going to be coming out against tough opposition who have got everything to play for, with nothing to lose.

“I’m sure they’ll be up for it. It’s a massive game for their club and the local area and that’s the beauty of the FFA Cup is that we’re going to get a big crowd in a regional area and further promote our game.

The progress of Tommy Oar…
“He’s almost like a new player as well. He’s enthusiastic, he’s energetic, he’s desperate to start tomorrow so you know he’s been putting in a lot of good work at training so again we’ve had a lot of new players come in but even someone like Tommy it’s just good to get that fresh energy and enthusiasm back in the squad and he is really showing his desire to want to get back in the starting 11.

The return of Danny DeSilva…
“I’ve always thought he was a good player. He’s been touted as such a promising player from a very early age and I’ve seen the potential in him, even just watching as a fan for many years. I’m really happy to have him. He’s exactly the kind of player I like watching in that number 10 role. Creative, skilful, can see the killer pass and score goals and set up other people so I’m sure he is going to be a great asset to our team this season.

Form guide…

Maitland:

  • WIN Lake Macquarie City FC (3-2)
  • LOSS Edgeworth FC (3-1)
  • WIN Charlestown City Blues FC (0 -3)
  • DRAW Broadmeadow Magic FC (2-2)
  • WIN (Weston Workers FC 3-1)

Central Coast Mariners:

  • WIN Charlestown City (5-0)
  • WIN Manly United (4-1)

Team news…  
From the list of contracted Hyundai A-League Players at the Club, only Kye Rowles looks to be unavailable through suspension, serving the second of the three game suspension carrying over from last season’s round 26 red card.  

All seven of Stajcic’s new arrivals will have the opportunity to debut on Wednesday night when the team travel to Maitland for their first competitive match of the campaign.

Maitland FC squad: 1.Matthew TROTT (GK), 2.Tomas DAVIES, 3.Liam THORNTON, 4.Zac THOMAS, 5.Ryan BROADLEY, 6.Matthew SWAN, 7.Nick COWBURN, 8.Matthew THOMPSON, 9.Andrew SWAN, 10.Ryan CLARKE, 11.Joel WOOD, 12.Sean PRATT, 13.Carl THORNTON, 14.James THOMPSON, 15.Blake RUTHERFORD, 16.Thomas DUGGAN, 17.Alex READ, 19.Louis TOWNSEND, 20. Luke JENNINGS (GK), 25.Grant BROWN, 71.Alex BOZANOVSKI

Central Coast Mariners squad: 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 2.Ziggy GORDON, 3.Jack CLISBY, 6.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 8 Michael McGLINCHEY, 9.Jordan MURRAY, 10.Tommy OAR, 11.Danny DESILVA, 13.Jai INGHAM, 14.Abraham MAJOK, 17.Samuel SILVERA, 18.Mark MORIC (NPL), 19.Matthew SIMON (c), 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW, 24.Aidan MUNFORD (gk) (NPL), 26.Joshua NISBET, 27.Lewis MILLER (NPL)

Unavailable: Kye ROWLES (suspended)

Match Details
Wednesday, 31 July 2019
FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32
Match: Maitland Football Club vs. Central Coast Mariners
Venue: Maitland Sports Ground, Maitland
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Tickets: CLICK HERE
TV Broadcast: The match will be live streamed via foxsports.com.au
Hash-tag: Join the match conversation using #FFACup #MagicOfTheCup & #CCMFC

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