Mariners make it four straight wins with 2-1 victory over Wanderers
The red-hot Central Coast Mariners secured their fourth successive win with a 2-1 victory against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Park.
The in-form Mariners couldn’t have gotten off to a more perfect start. Aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to six in a row, they struck within the opening two minutes.
Posing pressure on the Wanderers, Lachlan Bayliss delivered a clinical tackle in the 2nd minute before laying it off to forward Olayinka Sunmola.
Already through the last line of defence, Sunmola finished the ball into the bottom left-hand corner earning his second of the campaign.
Eager to reclaim a goal back, it wasn’t long until the Wanderers had their first goal-scoring opportunity of the game.
Switching the ball outside to Ariath Piol in the 11th minute, Piol cut the ball back into Frans Deli, who delivered a cross into the penalty area.
Despite finding Zachary Sapsford’s head, Sapsford could not control the header, striking it wide of the net and goalkeeper Patrick Beach.
As both clubs wrestled with trying to find the next goal in a tough physical contest, they both had ample chances but were unsuccessful in converting them.
Mariner Lachlan Bayliss nearly made it two for the away side but was denied by the left goal before Ariath Piol – returning from suspension – had back-to-back opportunities.
Causing havoc on the Mariners’ defence, the Wanderers seemed to target him when attacking. However, neither Piol or the Wanderers could get past Patrick Beach.
Beach delivered multiple saves in different positions to deny the home team the opportunity to finish the half locked up at 1-1.
Just like the first half, the travelling team came out of the blocks early to begin the second 45 minutes. The best of these opportunities came in the 51st minute.
Offered a priceless opportunity from Miguel Di Pizio, skipper Cameron Windust could not convert a header six metres away from the goal line.
As the two teams tried to change things up with substitutions, it was a step in the right direction as Aidan Milicevic and Marcus Younis would go on to have good opportunities on goal.
However, both were denied by the opposing goalkeepers.
Lawrence Caruso would get his fingertips to the ball, while Beach continued his great form from the first half saving shots in every direction.
In a nearly identical passage of play to the opening goal, the Mariners would make it 2-0 at the 76th-minute mark.
Jordan Segreto scored his maiden goal of the NPL NSW Men’s season with a left-foot shot into the right-hand corner past former Mariner Lawrence Caruso.
While the goal seemed to seal up the game, the Wanderers committed everything to attempt to come back in the game in front of their home fans.
This worked as Nathanael Blair produced a lovely pass to Younis, who touched it off to Aidan Simmons in the 90th minute.
While Simmons started the comeback from 2-0 down, it was too little too late for the Wanderers.
After producing a man-of-the-match performance in the goals for Central Coast, Patrick Beach spoke to Football NSW after the game.
“It’s huge for the team, we’ve been on a good run so far, and everyone’s working their ass off, like doing everything they need to do to make these performances on this pitch come to wins,” Beach said
“We knew they were gonna come out and press us really hard and do everything. They came out against us in the first game last time and put three goals in 14 minutes. It was our turn to put them on the back foot, and we did.
“I’m big on self-motivation and motivating myself to always take it seriously, and every day, the next session, (or) the next game, is the biggest game of my life, and that’s how I take it. Mentality-wise, it’s huge because I know I helped with the team’s win tonight,” Beach added on his own performance.
Next week, the Mariners will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games against Manly United. At the same time, the Wanderers will be eager for an away win against Blacktown City to move from the 15th position.
Match Stats
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 1 (Simmons 90’)
Central Coast Mariners FC 2 (Sunmola 2’ Segreto 76’)
Saturday 20 May 2023
Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Amber Morris and Thomas Bury
Fourth Official: Hayden Langhoiz
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1. Lawrence Caruso (GK) 3. Liam Bonetig 6. Frans Deli (23. Mason Fernandez 58’) 7. Jarrod Carluccio 10. Alexander Badolato 11. Zachary Sapsford 14. George Antonis (9. Nathanael Blair 69’) 19. Daniel Wilmering (C) 24. Teng Kuol (12. Edmond Lupancu 81’) 31. Aidan Simmons 77. Ariath Piol (13. Marcus Younis 58’)
Substitutions Not Used: 20. William Loucas (GK) 22. Jesse Cameron
Yellow Cards: Simmons 27’
Red Cards: None
Central Coast Mariners FC: 4. Dean Larson 5. Cameron Windust (c) 7. Aydan Hammond (23. Aidan Milicevic 66’) 8. Lachlan Bayliss 9. Miguel Di Pizio 12. Olayinka Sunmola (14. Marco Arambasic 81’) 15. Jordan Segreto 16. William Arnold 18. George Daniel 24. Zac Zoricich 30. Patrick Beach (GK)
Substitutions Not Used: 3. Max Middleby 10. Zachariah Waddell 21. Maksim Kasalovic 40. Anthony Pavlesic (GK)
Yellow Cards: Hammond 35’ Di Pizio 42’ Windust 71’ Bayliss 87’
Red Cards: None
Player Ratings:
3- Patrick Beach (Central Coast Mariners)
2- Olayinka Sunmola (Central Coast Mariners)
1- Cameron Windust (Central Coast Mariners)
By Ethan Lee Chalk
