Central Coast Mariners 1 Sydney FC 3
A day out under he palm trees at Central Coast Stadium is one that we look forward to each season, and this year we were treated to an absolute corker. Sydney FC, hardly firing on all cylinders recently, were simply unstoppable as they raced to a three-goal lead, which we all know should have been four by half time, and the fans, bedecked in Hawaiian shirts and other beach apparel, partied throughout the whole game. On a weekend that was described as the ‘peakest’ ever A-League round, a sex doll being launched from the upper tier of the away section before figuring in a number of official photos was something frankly quite normal.
An early start, leaving at 4pm from Sydney, passing Central Coast Stadium just as the women’s game between the Mariners and Melbourne Victory was kicking off, saw us installed at the horribly expensive Hotel Gosford soon after, jagging a table in front of the big screen, with the Sydney FC women’s game in Melbourne showing a little later than planned. Despite the Mariners game being at the stadium only a few hundred metres away, the Paramount+ feed was changed abruptly to their Victory game and wasn’t going to be switched back any time soon, so we had our mobile phones out watching our Princess pass up another penalty opportunity before heading ourselves to the stadium, well fed and watered.
Blessed relief with a 7.45pm kick off and a bit of cloud cover, meaning that our usual frying in the sun was going to be replaced by much more palatable conditions. The Cove were in position when we arrived and we tagged on to the back of the main group, almost everyone making the effort to dress up and be merry. The sun was setting behind the sauce bottles, the security personnel were on full anti-fun patrol, any stray beach ball or inflatable swiftly popped or relocated, but this was Sydney FC away support at its finest and there was no stopping the excited crowd.
The usual We Are Sydney was jettisoned in favour of one of the more throwy numbers to make use of the numerous props, and the scene was set for a big party in the away end. Expectations were low, but optimism is always high, and when a ball was headed into the penalty area at the far end and Rhyan Grant headed home, the visitors’ enclosure went bonkers. What a start! Our view over the beach party goers was a little obscured, and we had to rely on the many replays on the big screen to help decipher what the VAR delay was, and to be homest it looked offside. But the goal stood and we could celebrate again.
The SFC chant was just getting going when Anthony Caceres’ twinkle toes created a shooting chance for himself after Paddy Wood had dummied a through ball, and when the ball hit the net, we couldn’t believe it. Two up inside ten minutes against the free-scoring Mariners. The script was in the bin, this was already Sydney’s day.
Twenty minutes in, and a slip by a Mariners defender saw Caceres pounce down the left. He showed great pace to get a shot on goal, and somehow the ball was in the back of the net, replays showing a deflection taking the ball in, but we were already jumping for joy at this incredible start by our boys in blue. The away end was pumping and when Wood forced the usually reliable Danny Vukovic into coughing the ball up, we were already celebrating a fourth goal. Until we noticed that our striker wasn’t celebrating and the ball had incredibly gone the wrong side of the post, quite possibly the worst miss I have ever seen live in professional football. What on earth was he thinking? Talk was immediately of how we would feel if that miss was crucial by the end of the 90 minutes.
The Sydney FC sex doll found itself on the upper tier being serenaded in the call and response, there were water pistols being emptied, bubble machines firing and inflatable rings being launched everywhere. The lo-lo chant had an early airing and the air filled with rubbish; what a sight and what a place to be on this magical Saturday night under lights.
The rain came and went, a young fan got a birthday present of a go on the megaphone, leading the Cove in song, the chants were superb, and our fearless capo was clearly enjoying himself. Daniel kept the inflatables in check at half-time – the football had become secondary to the party. We knew we should have been four goals up, but three was more than our wildest dreams.
The second half was only ten minutes old when the Mariners got their foot back in the door. Exciting striker Angel Torres was left in way too much space, and we could see the chance developing even from our poor angle, and it was no surprise when he smashed the ball home past Andrew Redmayne. The nerves would normally be jangling now, but the players seemed relaxed and that spread to the fans.
Redders did make a point-blank save to deny a second, and Mariners were knocking on the door. Sydney FC had their chances too, Grant missing on the follow up when he simply had to score. The Sky Blues looked in control and that continued through to the end of the game, the result never in doubt. What a result for Sydney, and the impressive Hayden Matthews, on debut, who had earlier nearly run all the way on goal, was given the opportunity to lead away the Cove with the magaphone, dangerously close to the sex doll and in the shadow of the inflatable palm tree. This game has often been one to give new blood a moment in the limelight, memories of Marco Tilio and Harry Van Der Saag getting the same treatment here a few years back after scoring in their first game.
Understandably we didn’t want to leave. We were driving, but most fans had come by train, and the train times were posted on the big screen, and the fans filed out quickly in order to make the last trains of the night from nearby Gosford Station.
Not before a rousing celebration with the players, some of whom came down for high fives and selfies. It was a lovely scene. Players and fans alike having a great night on the coast and restoring the faith. Sydney FC now in 6th, and unbelievably only two points shy of Western Sydney Wanderers, who are classified as having a good season. That derby in Parramatta is going to be epic. We navigated the busy car park, the lack of stairs to get up to the first floor of the car park always causing a delay. We were out of there quickly though and off back to Sydney, arriving home around 11pm, tired and happy.
If someone suggests “Hey, do you fancy going to Gosford to see Sydney FC play the Mariners?” at any time in the future, the answer is yes. It’s a fabulous day out, close to Sydney, while still feeling like a proper day out. A proper away day. Grab your inflatables, shop at Lowes for your oversized Hawaiian shirt and come join the beach party. Central Coast Away! Central Coast Away!