The Central Coast Mariners’ Youth team ended a tough battle with a 1-0 loss to Sydney FC, courtesy of a goal to, Jeremy Cox, in the 65th minute.
It was a tight affair at the Central Coast Mariners’ Centre of Excellence in Tuggerah on December 17, contested by an unfamiliar looking Mariners’ outfit, where the likes of Hyundai A-League players: Josh Bingham, Adam Berry, Kye Rowles, Adam Pearce and Trent Buhagiar, granted invaluable game time.
It took just three minutes for the Mariners’ Youth to create their first chance of the match, when, Lachie Wales, crossed in expertly from the wing, Bingham let rip on a vicious header that was just over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, Sydney FC produced a chance of their own, but, Adam Pearce, did well in goals to keep the scores locked at 0-0.
The young shot stopper was on hand again to make another crucial save in the 23rd minute.
Then, in the 28th minute, another ball from, Lachie Wales, almost paid dividends, which this time found Buhagiar, who fired a shot that was deflected wide.
Wales was having a hand in everything in the game.
Another ball from the exciting winger found the feet of, Matias Paz, who shot just wide of the target, which saw the sides hit the sheds locked a 0-0.
Adam Berry looked to take the game into his own hands five minutes into the second half, with a vicious strike from distance, but the Sydney FC keeper was up to the task.
He followed that up with another long-range strike, just five minutes later, which thumped off the crossbar.
In the 55th minute, Bingham tried his luck with a free-kick, but the Sydney FC keeper made another save at 0-0.
Despite numerous chances to bag the opener, the away side snatched the lead in the 65th minute, when, Jeremy Cox, found the back of the net for Sydney FC, which was the final score for the afternoon.
Full attention has now turned to Saturday, December 30, for Wayne O’Sullivan’s Youth Team, who host the Newcastle Jets with a 10:30am kick-off at the Mariners’ Centre of Excellence in Tuggerah.
Source:
Media release, Dec 17
Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners