The Central Coast Mariners tripped over themselves in Wellington last weekend, going down to Pheonix 2 – 1 in a game best characterised as a brutle battle.
Despite the result football commentators across the agree the Mariners are still looking like a grand final side in the making.
The loss is the second for the local side from the last five games, though the team maintains its second spot on the ladder with 22 points, just ahead of the Wanderers and Pheonix both on 20 points after 13 games played.
The Mariners return to Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium on Saturday for another hard game against vocal rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.
Last Sunday’s game statistics favoured the Mariners with 18 shots on goal to 8 and a 55 percent possession rate, though secondary stats were not enough for the Central Coast to gain the points that really matter.
The team was without popular Mariners game maker Jason Cummings who was out with a minor injury.
Though the depth in the side was evident as Jacob Farrel, Benny Nkololo, Brian Kaltak, Marco Tulio and Sammy Silvera made up any apparent holes in the Mariners lineup.
Benny Nkololo scored in the 90th minute to keep the game alive as the Mariners advanced forward in numbers during the 7 minutes of extra time. Wellington defended to the man, repelling every effort.
An assertive felling of Mariners defender Nectarios Triantis after the full-time whistle by the Pheonix keeper saw tempers flare after the game.
The loss puts the Mariners in a challenging position ahead of Saturday night’s game against Western Sydney Wanderers at home at Industree Group Stadium at 7.45 pm.
A challenge that the local team is happy to accept with the club encouraging local fans to turn up to witness the battle for second spot.
David Abrahams