The Central Coast Mariners have continued their impressive rise up the National Youth League ladder, following a 4-2 victory over the high-flying Perth Glory on Saturday night.
The Central Coast Mariners have continued their impressive rise up the National Youth League ladder, following a 4-2 victory over the high-flying Perth Glory on Saturday night.
Bernie Ibini-Isei-s hot goalscoring form rolled on as he was one of four different players to find the back of the net alongside Jimmy Oates, Marc Warren and Mitchell Duke, in what Mariners NYL Head Coach Tony Walmsley has described as the “best performance of the season so far.”
“We were disappointed with the way the two goals were conceded but at 2-all we had to show character and belief and the boys did that in spades. It was I think our best all-round performance of the season so far and I-m delighted for the boys,” said Walmsley.
The Glory had the chance to go top with victory but it was the Yellow and Navy to heap more pressure on the top of the pile, moving to fifth place, and now just five points off the pacesetters.
Central Coast raced to a 2-nil lead in the first 36 minutes thanks to goals from Oates and Warren, before the Glory answered just on half-time through Billy Quinncroft.
Perth was able to level the scores up soon after the break through Sam Mitchinson, but the Mariners stepped up a gear from then on, for leading goalscorer Ibini-Isei and his strike partner Duke securing the win.
The scoring begun for the Mariners in the 18th minute when Oates made an unchallenged run all the way to just outside the box, and he struck it perfectly to give Glory ‘keeper Tim Doyle no chance of stopping it as it scorched into the back of the net.
Central Coast controlled play for the majority of the rest of the first half and had several good chances to add a second goal, and that eventually came courtesy of Warren in the 36th minute.
A well directed corner found its way to the middle of the box for the Mariners and Warren laid on a beautiful header to again give Doyle no chance and Central Coast looked well on the way to a strong win with a two-nil lead after 36 minutes.
The Glory was able to sneak a goal back just on the verge of half-time, though, with Quinncroft picking up the crumbs from a header that bounced off the post to head one home himself.
The Mariners deserved the lead in the opening half, but had nothing to show for their good play five minutes into the second half when the Glory equalised. Mitchinson got on the end of a good cross, slid in and guided the ball home past Central Coast ‘keeper David Bradasevic.
Scores were only tied at 2-all for eight minutes, with Central Coast regaining the advantage through a good strike from Ibini-Isei in the 58th minute.
The Mariners then ensured the full points with a fourth goal in the 76th minute through Duke and then held out the remaining 15 minutes for the emphatic victory.
“I don-t like to single out individuals but I thought Nick Fitzgerald was outstanding today,” said Walmsley.
“His link play was good, he was creative and did a great job in that number 10 position which has become such a big part of Arnie-s (Hyundai A-League Head Coach Graham Arnold) play in the first team with Amini and Perez.
“Our combinations going forward were good but the pleasing thing overall is the fact we set our stall out three weeks ago to win three in a row and we have done that.
“With Melbourne, Newcastle and the AIS in the next three games, we now have a great chance to make a real impact on this competition,” Walmsley said.
The Mariners next match of the National Youth League 2010/11 season will be against Melbourne Victory next Sunday, 19 December at John Cain Memorial Park, Melbourne. Kick-off is at 2:00pm AEDT.
Match Details
Perth Glory 2 (Quinncroft 45′, Mitchinson 51′)
Central Coast Mariners 4 (Oates 17′, Warren 36′, Ibini-Isei 58′, Duke 76′)
