Mariners resurgence continues as Rangers woes deepen
In what was seen as a match against two relegation threatened sides, the Central Coast Mariners secured a 2-0 victory over the Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon to ease some pressure and push the visitors to the foot of the ladder.
An early goal from Ahmed Elhelou opened the scoring in just the 8th minute and Jai Rose doubled the hosts’ lead just after the half-time break in the 51st minute.
Central Coast suffered a blow in the 58th minute as Ben Mewett was sent from the field with a straight red card, giving Mt Druitt a fantastic opportunity to get back into the match with an extra player for 30 minutes.
Unfortunately for the visitors they weren’t able to capitalise on their advantage, despite their attacking efforts in the final third of the game.
The result could be crucial for the Mariners as they look to climb out of the relegation zone as the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season progresses.
A free kick in the 8th minute gave the hosts a promising opportunity just outside the 18-yard box.
Rose sent the ball into the area and Elhelou nodded it home to take an early lead for the Mariners.
Mt Druitt looked poised for a goal in the 26th minute as William Rankin sent a ball in to Caleb Jackson-Brown at the edge of the 18-yard box.
Jackson-Brown sent a shot towards the target from the edge of the area but Mariners ‘keeper Joel Wade was able to deny.
Another free kick for the Mariners in the 27th minute gave them the opportunity to capitalise on a set piece but Rose’s shot deflected straight off the defensive wall.
Elhelou was back in action in the 34th minute, blazing forward before letting a shot off but Mt Druitt custodian Dylan Niski was able to block the chance.
Mt Druitt entered the second stanza with hunger, coming agonisingly close in the 49th minute.
Substitute Bilal Belkadi linked up with Yuto Morita, who sent a shot in the bottom right corner but Wade diverted it to the post and it dribbled just in front of the goal line.
The Mariners retaliated quickly, doubling their lead through Rose early in the second half.
Rose blitzed forward in the 51st minute and with plenty of space around him sent a strike into the back of the netting.
Joey Gibbs came close in the 54th minute as flicked a ball from Abraham Majok towards the target but Wade was well placed to collect.
Referee Jackson Mackie served Ben Mewett with a red card in the 58th minute after a challenge, bringing the hosts down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Substitute Yuta Komura maneuvered his way into the area in the 62nd minute but Michael Paragalli was able to slide in to deny a chance at a shot.
Belkadi came close for the visitors in the 84th minute after Macerola sent a ball into the area, but his close-range effort was saved by Wade.
Mt Druitt continued to apply pressure, spending plenty of time in their attacking half in the final stages of the match but they weren’t able to convert a chance to capitalise on their extra man.
Majok tapped one into the netting from close range in the 95th minute but was swiftly ruled offside in the final moments of the match, with the game wrapping up 2-0 to the hosts.
The win has seen the Mariners jump from the foot of the ladder to 15th, a point clear of the Rangers as the Central Coast sit four points away from 14th placed the Western Sydney Wanderers, a position that would see them steer clear of the relegation playoff.
Match Stats
Central Coast Mariners FC 2 (Elhelou 8’, Rose 51)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 0
Sunday June 29th, 2025
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Referee: Jackson Mackie
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Brayden McDonald
Central Coast Mariners FC: 3. Michael Paragalli, 5. Ben Mewett, 9. Ahmad Elhelou (26. Flynn Richards 80’), 10. Ayouk Mow (38. Harrison Jablonski 63’), 11. Jai Rose (12. Ty McKibbin 74’), 21. Muginga Mpota (17. Jesse Mantell 63’), 22. Shumba Mutokoyi, 23. Laurence Taylor (14. Angus Reid 63’), 24. Kye Schumacher, 35. Max Miller, 40. Joel Wade
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Jared Williams
Yellow Cards: Taylor 56’
Red Cards: Mewett 58’
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC: 1. Dylan Niski, 3. Danilo Doce Menteiro, 5. Theph Theph, 6. Jared Macerola, 9. Joseph Gibbs, 10. Yuto Morita (7. Garang Awac 74’), 14. Abraham Majok, 15. Caleb Jackson-Brown (99. Bilal Belkadi 46’), 18. Lachlan Vasiliou (29. Yuta Komura 46’), 21. William Rankin (17. Stevan Stanic-Floody 61’), 27. Shayden Sampow (12. Rocco Pelle 61’)
Substitutes Not Used: 16. Stefan Giglio
Yellow Cards: Macerola 84’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Jai Rose (CCM)
2 – Ahmed Elhelou (CCM)
1 – Joel Wade (CCM)
