Mariners setting standards of their own

Derby this Derby that, we all thought that this week’s F3 match-up between Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners was going to be a belter and in some respects it was an entertaining match for the spectators, the Mariners coming up trumps two nil.

It was perfect revenge for the Mariners who suffered their last loss of the competition in Round Three to Newcastle up at Ausgrid Stadium although the Mariners have come along in leaps and bounds since then.

Despite an impressive run of form the Mariners know that they are not at their best yet and they know that they will continue to get better as the season progresses.

"At the moment we are at about 75 percent and there's no doubt that we will reach 100 when we have to," said Mariners Coach Graham Arnold.

Since the demise of the Brisbane Roar’s record breaking run, the Mariners have set standards of their own by beating teams through their well structured, hard drilled ball play.

“The Mariners are a side that are very well marshalled and they play to their strengths which makes them a hard side to break down.

“Even though we may have made it a little easier for them to beat us tonight we have to give full credit to our opposition because they played great tonight,” said Jets coach Gary Van Egmond.

It is easy for the players to get caught up in the hype of a Derby match and this week’s A-league match saw a strong travelling base arrive at Gosford which was an impressive site to see.

The Jets admit that they envy the passion of their supporters and were apologetic that they made the effort to travel all this way to watch such a disappointing performance.

“Our fans are great and it was a good sign to see them make the trip to watch us play down here and it is just a shame that our supporters were probably more passionate then some of our players tonight,” said Van Egmond.

Graham Arnold also commented on the Derby feel of the match and noted his concern with the crowd numbers on the Central Coast.

“A derby is for the fans not the players and the boys out on the field are doing everything they can so it was disappointing to see that the crowd numbers were only around the 10 000 mark,” said Arnold.

Full credit was awarded to the fitness staff that is led by former Mariners defender Andrew Clark as the players came out on top fully fit despite a disappointing playing surface.

“Clarky is one of the best I have ever worked with and he gives me plenty of options and a full side to pick from every week so we are grateful to have him,” said Arnold.

Next week the Mariners are on the road to face Brisbane, a mouth watering match up that could mirror the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League Grand Final that was arguably one of the best football spectacles this country has ever seen.

With the Central Coast Mariners finding such form they are aware that there are plenty of games and tough match ups to come and complacency is not an option.

“Titles are not won in December and I would love to beat the Roar on the last game of the year,” said Arnold.

Matt Simon has been one of the keys to the Mariners success, playing at a standard that is possibly the best of his career. Tonight was no different as he bagged his sixth goal against the Newcastle Jets.

“I don’t look at it as playing the best form of my career, I just see every week as a new challenge and hope that we can get better as a team week in week out,” said Simon.

The Mariners are now joint top of the table with Brisbane Roar but sitting in second spot on goal difference. With 17 weeks to go the gap has been bridged and the Mariners will now look to build a gap of their own.