The Central Coast Mariners, the smallest club in the ISUZU-UTE A-League competition, have yet again made a distinctive mark on Australia’s football landscape by thumping Adelaide United 4-1 at Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium in the last game of the regular season.
The decisive win takes the Mariners into the second spot on the league ladder, behind Melbourne City and just ahead of the powerful Adelaide United outfit.
It not only brings a chance for a finals football match to Gosford but earns the Mariners a place in the highly sought after Asia Football Championships and secures a week off in the A-league finals series.
Coach Nick Montgomery couldn’t contain his pleasure fter the game with a broad sideline smile and air punch.
The victory must be extra sweet for the club’s broad supporter groups, from club members to sponsors, fans, staff and regional fans, all of whom have suffered the scepticism of big city-centric commentators about the viability of the club and its football strategies.
The game saw goals to Tulio in the 23rd and 57th minutes, Nkololo in the 41st minute and to young Harry Steele in the 87th minute.
The Mariners now have a week off to watch the elimination finals between the lower-ranked clubs, before revving up again in a semi-final against one of the winners of those lesser finals.
David Abrahams