Central Coast Mariners 4 Blacktown City 1
Blacktown City Under 20s headed to the Central Coast Sports College in Kariong full of optimism following their derby tussle the previous weekend, but left with much work to do, dismantled by a Central Coast Mariners team full of invention. Hot conditions in the first half, in which Ava Moller (13) and Samara Neiddu (37) scored for the hosts, gave way to a much cooler second half, where two classy strikes from Andie Chaseling (28) sandwiched a cleverly worked consolation goal from City’s Lara Green. The final score did not flatter the hosts, and they had opportunities for more, but goalkeeper Anna Ivanovic kept the score down with a string of timely interceptions. The Mariners flexing their muscles in pre-season and looking good with the 2024 season only one weekend away.
Blacktown City were under no illusions about this game – their final pre-season hit-out against NPL2 opposition – and when Sienna Bell was thrown to the floor early on with no free-kick awarded, they knew that it would be a tough assigment against the free-flowing Mariners. Lily Thompson was busy in the early stages for the visitors, but it was the Central Coast who were finding space. A corner was cleared to left back Matilda Gallagher (22) who fired wide, and Ivanovic was the busier of the two goalkeepers.
The Mariners held possession for long periods of time, goalkeeper Kyara O’Brien (30) and defender Briana Myers (33) stroking the ball around under no pressure whatsoever at the back, inviting City to commit. Lucia Franulovic played in Brianna Tinney but the pass was too strong, Annabelle Gerard was penalised cheaply for a push to further agitate the City bench, and Bell managed to get a shot away but it lacked any power to trouble O’Brien (30). Emily Jackson almost release Tinney again, but the firmly struck through ball was just too far – there were signs that City could pose a threat, but in reality the Mariners were in total control.
Calm defending from Kath Spooner-Smith then led to a half-chance, Niamh Nolan slipping in Jackson, but again the firmly hit through ball was too firm. Ivanovic was almost sold short from a back-pass but managed to clear under pressure, and the resulting cross was well dealt with by Franulovic, as the referee signalled the first drinks break on this very humid afternoon.
It wasn’t long after the restart that Mariners broke through. Chaseling (28) raced down the right and tucked a ball in for Moller (13) who advanced and rifled a shot over Ivanovic to open the scoring. It was thoroughly deserved, a lovely shot, but Ivanovic will know that she could have done better.
Nolan and Tinney then combined, Tinney’s touch deserting her at the wrong moment, before the Mariners had a glorious chance to go 2-0 up, Ivanovic touching a shot away from the left. City rallied, Bell battled hard to win the ball in midfield and the ball broke for Jackson but she couldn’t get the shot in. Melanie Napoli then found herself in a great position on the left, fed by Tinney, but her cross was low and wide of the goal.
The second Mariners goal arrived, Neiddu (37) given way too much time to turn and pick her spot, and her fabulous strike sailed over Ivanovic for another long-range goal. That sparked City into life. Nolan intercepted a fluffed clearance and cracked in a shot that O’Brien touched away for a corner. Bell raced up the right but couldn’t find the right pass, before a moment of magic from Jackson saw her beat two players with some Brazilian samba magic and feed Tinney, whose shot was brilliantly saved by O’Brien and gathered at the second attempt.
There was life in City, but the 2-0 scoreline at the break was indicative of the dominiation by the home side.
The home team continued to boss the game after the break too, a cracking shot from Jasmin Fisher (23) bounced down off the underside of the bar with Ivanovic beaten, and City somehow cleared the ball away. The difference in the attacking intent of the two teams was underlined when Napoli found herself in a shooting position at the other end and dragged her shot so wide that it hit the corner flag and stayed in. The end result was a corner after Tinney recycled the ball, but her corner kick was straight into the side-netting; it seems so much more acceptable when Katrina Gorry or Mackenzie Hawkesby do that. Jackson and Nolan continued to battle well up the right, but it was a breakaway goal that effecively sealed the result, the exciting Chaseling (28) playing a superb one-two to race clear and finish emphatically under pressure.
Aurelia Smith had been on the field for a minute when she took a ball full in the face, and Bell was down for some time with an ankle problem, eventually comingback on after treatment to continue her all-action display. Tinney then raced down the left as the game opened up, her cross tempting for Izzy Saunders but she was beaten to it by the solid Mariners defence.
Mariners threw everything at City, only a combination of good scrambling in defence, and a bit of luck when the underside of the crossbar came to their rescue again, keeping the scoreline respectable. By the time the final drinks break was signalled, City were punch-drunk and ready to be taken apart.
Whatever was said at the break worked wonders. Smith raced up the right to feed Hayley Reynolds; her expert cross to the far post was met by the incoming Green, who connected sweetly on the volley to smash home a thrilling goal for the visitors.
Any thoughts of a rally to bring the scores closer were immediately erased; Miki Tucker (21) launched a searing through ball that saw Chaseling (28) race through unchallenged to give Ivanovic no chance, the score blowing out to 4-1 with another expert finish. City coach Rachel Chalhoub then took her protestations a little far, earning a yellow card for dissent. Reynolds lost the ball in midfield but tracked her runner all the way to the byline to make the clearance.
An agricultural challenge on Bell in the middle of the park then had the City players up in arms, the moderately partisan referee choosing not to brandish a yellow card for a late tackle that belonged in a rugby league game. It was an unnecessary moment of thuggery on the midfield dynamo, and Bell had to eventually leave the field.
Napoli managed to get another shot on goal, this time on target but again lacking any power, Saunders tried to play in Reynolds but the pace of the ball got the better of her, and Chaseling (28) got through again with a hat-trick opportunity for the home team, but Abby Duggan did well to usher the ball out wide to prevent the shot.
The action ended when Thompson made a speedy interception, but her shot was comfortably saved by O’Brien. The final whistle brought an intriguing game to a close, the home team with so much more endeavour than their meek visitors, and the lethal striking and direct forward play by the home team was the big difference between the two teams. For Blacktown City, midfield enforcer Sienna Bell further enhanced her reputation with another big performance, and there were flashes of skill from Emily Jackson and Brianna Tinney that, on another day, could have yielded further goals to make this a closer contest altogether.
Blacktown City now round off their pre-season campaign on Saturday morning when they travel to Newcastle Jets for an even bigger test. The Mariners host Hills United back at the same venue, and the result of that game will be a good indication of how the home team will fare this season. On today’s showing, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Stay tuned for more NPL action next week as we head further up the M1.
Thanks for reading. This was a challenge – no team sheet from the Mariners, so lots of good action omitted from the report; if anyone can correct the scorers or the names mentioned, I’ve put the numbers of the players against their names – feel free to contact me and we can change it! Also, the first half photos were taken with an old full-frame camera and the second half photos with a new cropped sensor mirrorless camera. Can you notice the difference? Would love to know which ones you found to be better quality! As always, spread the word. Let’s get into four figures for reads this week!