It was another tale of two teams for the Central Coast Mariners over the Australia Day weekend, with the men’s team grinding out a lacklustre draw across the ditch, while the women’s side delivered a gritty, well earned victory in front of a packed home crowd.
The Mariners men battled to a tactically stifled 0-0 draw against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday afternoon (AEST) in Christchurch, in a match that offered little in the way of attacking fireworks.
With both teams adopting a cautious, risk-averse approach, chances were at a premium, and neither side looked likely to steal the three points.
While the draw sees the Mariners add another competition point, it does little to ignite their season, with the side stuck in 10th place on 18 points, just behind Wellington on goal difference.
With time running out to make a push for finals football, the Coast’s men will need to rediscover their attacking mojo to stay in the mix.
It was a far more spirited showing from the Mariners women, who claimed a 1-0 triumph over Wellington Phoenix at Woy Woy Oval in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd of 2,500 on Australia Day.
The breakthrough came courtesy of 16-year-old sensation Tiana Fuller, who let fly with a fearless long-range rocket that pinged off the left post and ricocheted home, sealing a hard-earned three points.
The victory propels the Mariners up to fifth place on the A-League Women’s ladder, giving them a serious shot at finals contention as the season heats up.
With both Mariners squads now at a crucial juncture in their respective seasons, the focus shifts to their next assignments, where points will be at a premium and consistency key in the run home.
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