Mariners break losing streak with 2-0 victory over City

The Mariners kicked off their first home game of the year in style; securing a 2-0 victory against Melbourne City after thirteen winless games.

Mitchell Duke was man of the hour at the Mariners camp, scoring both goals early on and injecting the Mariners with some much-needed momentum from the onset.

"I’ve got a lot of belief in Dukey, as I do in all the players... we didn’t have a bad player today," Moss said after the game.

It goes to show that a touch of confidence can work wonders, with the most noticeable difference in the Mariners’ game today being a sense of conviction despite key members of their starting eleven too injured to play.

Michael Neill and Nick Montgomery remained off the field, while a new addition to the bench is Matt Simon, having suffered a knee injury in the New Years day game against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Nevertheless, the Mariners rose to the challenge. An excellent pass from Glen Trifiro to Mitchell Duke in the 11th minute saw the Mariners’ secure a goal – only their third first-half goal this season.

Richard Vernes and Isaka Cernak started in place of Matt Sim and Nick Fitzgerald, obviously in the hope that they would shake things up in front of goal.

Vernes, who has started only four games this season seemed slightly hesitant in front of goal, but played his part nevertheless.  A scramble in the 26th minute saw him poke the ball out of the fray to Mitchell Duke, who did not hesitate to make the most of the opportunity, bringing the score to 2-0.

“When you only get two days recovery between games and its 30 degree heat, it just shows how much camaraderie there is between the players and the staff… its nothing less than the players deserve,” Moss said after the game.

Although Melbourne started the game in lacklustre fashion, they certainly still made the Mariners work for the win. City’s formidable attacking powers in the form of Robert Korin and Aaron Mooy forced Liam Reddy to make some remarkable saves, in the 37th and 42nd minutes respectively.

“If you come behind from 2-0 then its difficult. Today we came back in the game with a few good chances but Reddy had some very good saves, some good reactions,” said City coach John van’t Schip.

Bad luck reared its ugly horns, with Melbourne City goal man Tando Velaphi red carded in the 60th minute after taking out Mitchell Duke as he charged forwards in search of a trifecta. Although a slightly sticky situation, Melbourne City coach John van't Schip admitted it was a fair decision.

Both players hobbled off the field, leaving City without their starting goal man and the Mariners without their man-of-the-moment, looking as though he may be joining Simon, Fitzgerald and Neill on the bench.

City’s replacement goalie Andrew Redmayne was immediately put to the test by

Eddy Bosnar in the 68th minute, managing to get his fingertips to Bosnar’s powerful strike.

The 7409 strong crowd stayed behind their team, giving Cernak a standing ovation as he was substituted by Matt Sim in the 82nd minute. Moss obviously keen to inject a new dose of intensity to the Mariners offence almost received instant gratification from Sim, who really should have done better with a perfectly placed cross from new recruit Travis Major.

“I really believe in Travis. He’s a very strong person mentally, and definitely gives us a physical presence. He has a real eye for goal and can score with both feet,” said Phil Moss.

Reddy might have been man of the match, relentlessly stopping the best efforts of Mooy, Brown and Korin. Although Melbourne pushed to the end, they were on the back foot from the beginning and were unable to produce the goods to secure a result.

The last ten minutes of the game saw the whole stadium on its feet, willing and cheering the Mariners on to victory. The final whistle was a happy one, with Mariners fans finally able to celebrate in a long-overdue win.

“It’s an accumulation of belief and desire and confidence. Its four points from six to start the new year and it's a sign that 2015 is going to be a better year than the end of 2014…we’ve all been working hard but lets not get carried away,” Moss said.

The A-League now takes a three-week break from competition as the Asian Cup kicks off. The Mariners next play against Sydney FC at home on January 24th.



Central Coast Mariners starting XI: 3. Joshua Rose 4. Jacob Poscoliero 5. Zachary Anderson 7. John Hutchinson (C) 9. Mitchell Duke 10. Anthony Caceres 12. Liam Reddy (GK) 17. Richard Vernes 18. Glen Trifiro 23. Isaka Cernak 25. Eddy Bosnar

Central Coast Mariners substitutes: 1. Matthew Nash (GK) 2. Storm Roux 11. Nick Fitzgerald 14. Travis Major 15. Matthew Sim

Melbourne City starting XI: 3. Robbie Wielaert 5. Erik Paartalu 6. Aaron Mooy 10. Robert Koren 11. Damien Duff 15. David Williams 19. Benjamin Garuccio 20. Tando Velaphi (GK) 23. Mate Dugandzic 24. Patrick Kisnorbo (C) 27. Ross Archibald

Melbourne City substitutes: 1. Andrew Redmayne (GK) 7. Iain Ramsay 13. Jonatan Germano 14. James Brown 18. Paulo Retre