The Mariners’ 3-1 defeat of Melbourne Victory at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium in front of a record capacity crowd has effectively re-written the rules of round ball football in Australia.
The little club’s formula of deep community interaction, quality coaching, regional loyalty, tight financial management, and football-loving ownership has triumphed once again over the ‘money and marketing’ approach of the big football clubs.
Perhaps the Mariners’ approach works because it creates a series of deep emotions in its supporters.
Mariners fans and the greater Central Coast public most certainly feel inspired and elated after their little football team secured the triple crown: the top-of-table Premiership, the AFC Cup, and now the Championship—the first time in Australian football history.
The record crowd of over 21,379 on Saturday, May 25, ensured an atmosphere never before witnessed at a regional stadium anywhere in the country.
The game was certainly no walk in the garden for the local side, something Melbourne Victory made sure of.
The Melbourne team’s notoriously aggressive style of football dominated the first half, leading to bloody head clashes between Victory’s Da Silva and Mariners forward Alou Kuol.
The incident stopped the game in its tracks for almost 10 minutes.
At half-time, the score was still locked at 0-0, thanks to a series of first-class saves from Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic.
Manager/coach Mark Jackson replaced Kuol with Ryan Edmondson in the front line, a move that later proved decisive.
Melbourne Victory was the first to open the scoring in the 50th minute with a classic cross that beat the uber keeper Vukovic.
The Mariners responded by turning up the tempo, but their efforts were initially fruitless against Melbourne’s clinical defence.
As the half dragged on, Victory smelled victory in Gosford, as did the big local crowd.
Then, in the 90th minute, young Ryan Edmondson pulled one out of the bag to equal the scores, sending the crowd into rapturous applause.
Injury time didn’t produce a decider, necessitating extra time.
The next 30 minutes showed another game, with the home side channelling the magic atmosphere of the evening lifting the men in gold to another level.
In the 96th minute, Miguel Di Pizio scored the Mariners’ second goal of the evening, something that signalled a possible back to back win.
Victory, to their credit, refused to give in and pushed the Mariners with more of their physical football.
However, the tide had well and truly turned and the expectations in the home crowd were palpable.
Ryan Edmondson answered the crowd with a third goal in the 123rd minute.
When the final whistle finished the competition allowing the celebrations to begin, many fans spontaneously jumped the fence, flooding the ground, embracing the local players.
The Mariners have done more than earn the respect they deserve from the larger clubs, the football commentariat and the big broadcast channels.
The club has shown that regional football clubs like the Mariners are a successful formula for the Professional Leagues in Australia.
Captain Danny Vukovic, announcing his retirement, said, “The odds are always against us and we find a way – I am so proud of this club, these players, and this region.”
This sentiment must surely show football’s beating heart in Australia now and into the future.