Time is running out for the Central Coast Mariners as they look to escape the first wooden spoon finish in their history in Sunday’s F3 Derby against Newcastle.
Tony Walmsley’s side once again produced a promising first half of football last week, heading into the break a goal up against Melbourne City before collapsing to a 4-1 defeat at AAMI Park. Once again it is a reflection of the lack of depth and experience in the Mariners’ young squad, who have time and again conceded a flood of late goals to drop points.
With a ten point gap between their nearest rivals, Wellington Phoenix, time is fast running out for the Mariners if they are to lift themselves from the bottom of the league. This weekend’s fixture is the first of two home matches against the Jets, and maximum points from both are crucial to avoid the wooden spoon.
Newcastle still possess a chance to sneak into the top six following Perth’s loss to Western Sydney and this weekend’s Big Blue. If Scott Miller’s side can secure their first win in Gosford since 2008 they could finish the weekend within three points of a finals place, something that seemed impossible at the turn of the year.
Key Battle – Mitch Austin vs Jason Hoffman
With Fabio Ferreira sitting the match out following a red card, Mitch Austin is clearly the most potent threat in the Mariners lineup. His quality was evident in his goal against City, sprinting half the field to score a superb individual goal.
Local boy Jason Hoffman will be given the unenviable task of tracking the runs of the lightning-quick Austin, certainly no mean feat. This has been a season of quiet stability for the defender, starting all but one of his side’s matches – a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Team News
Last week’s match against City decimated Tony Walmsley’s starting eleven, with Storm Roux suffering a horrific injury and Jacob Poscoliero and Fabio Ferreira earning suspensions. With two of the starting back four unavailable the fit-again Jake McGing could start on the right side of defence, with Josh Rose to cover Poscoliero’s absence in the centre.
Central Coast Mariners expected starting XI (4-3-3): Izzo; McGing, Ascroft, J. Rose, Neill; L. Rose, Montgomery, Garcia; Buhagiar, Bingham, Austin.
Danish international Morten Nordstrand made a stunning impact in his first start for the Jets last week with a match-winning double and should continue his run of appearances. Scott Miller seems to have struck a winning formula and will be unlikely to make any drastic changes, but Mateo Poljak could return in an attempt to solidify his team’s defensive structure.
Adelaide United expected starting XI (4-4-2): Birighitti; Hoffman, Mullen, Boogard, Jackson; Poljak, Ugarkovic, Alivodic, Leonardo; Trifunovic, Nordstrand.
Head-to-head
Central Coast Mariners 13, Newcastle Jets 9, Drawn 14.
Previous Meeting
November’s meeting between these sides in Newcastle saw the visitors go down to ten early in the contest after Jake McGing saw red for a two-footed challenge. It looked as though the Jets had secured a late win after finally breaking the deadlock through Milos Trifunovic, but Matt Sim came to his side’s rescue with a 90th-minute equaliser.
Prediction
The Mariners have suffered a succession of heavy losses against the top four of the competition, but a meeting with a team from their end of the table should be an even contest.
Central Coast Mariners 1 Newcastle Jets 1
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