Mariners awkwardly trying to find their feet

The Mariners are going through some awkward puberty times in terms of getting their shit together.

Recent games have been like watching a stint of teen drinking: it starts off okay but then spirals terribly out of control.

They pace themselves well for the first 35 minutes and then one too many vodka cruisers before half time and goals are conceded, matches are lost.

They seem to sober up again at the start of the second half, but their morale is beaten. Concerned parent Phil Moss asks them: “Have you been drinking?!” and they look at him sheepishly, as if to say “I don’t know what’s going on...”

Eventually the game ends. They wake up feeling shattered and low, they vow never to get so drunk again, and that next weekend they wont make the same mistakes again.

But, alas, after losing their third straight game at home, this time to Adelaide United, the Mariners will have to dig deep to ensure a result against Newcastle in the #F3Derby clash this Sunday.

Phil Moss has promised “fireworks” and let's face it, we all like a good party.

However, it’s difficult to say where these pyrotechnics will be coming from.

It’s not that the Mariners haven’t created chances for themselves so far this season; it’s just that they have been unable to execute them.

Malick Mane is well and truly off the cards, not that he scored any goals anyway. Richard Vernes is beginning to get more playing time as a result, but might need a bit more time to show us what he’s capable of.

The midfield is full of promise, with the likes of Anthony Caceres, Mitchell Duke, Nick Fitzgerald and Isaka Cernak all consistently pushing the ball forward, but somehow not finding the ever-elusive goal.

Seven games in, it’s hard to say “it’s still early days” but what is good news is that Newcastle is actually coming second last, so the Mariners have them there.

What’s more, the Central Coast boys just played five games in the space of two weeks, so a return to normal game schedules this week will allow for a bit more down time to rest, recover and rehabilitate.

The yellow and navy will certainly be hoping for a result against their arch-rivals away at Hudson Stadium. Let’s hope they don’t throw it all away in a few minutes of sloppiness.