AGO: MARINERS CHAMPIONSHIP

10 seasons ago the Central Coast Mariners made history. A small club with a proud supporter base reached the top of the A-League in what was truly an incredible moment.

It was an achievement that had been coming, building over the previous seasons, making the moment that Peter Green blew his whistle to signify full time all the more special.

After falling to Brisbane in the grand final two seasons before and Perth in the preliminary final the previous campaign, the Mariners were determined to finally secure a maiden A-League championship.

The regular season went well for the Central Coast, finishing in second place behind the newly formed Western Sydney Wanderers. Back-to-back losses against the Wanderers and Sydney FC saw the side narrowly miss out on the premiership, with all eyes on the final’s series.

Three Mariners players, Trent Sainsbury, Michael McGlinchey and Daniel McBreen made the A-League team of the season, with McBreen also awarded the golden boot.

By finishing in the top two, the Central Coast along with the Wanderers had the first weekend of finals off. Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar dispatched of

Perth and Adelaide respectively.

In front of over 10,000 fans at what was at the time called Bluetounge Stadium, the Mariners needed to secure a victory over Melbourne to set up another grand final appearance.

A McBreen screamer from outside the penalty area separated the two sides on that night, with the Mariners booking their place at Allianz Stadium the next week.

With midfielder and current Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery out of the match after picking up a red card in the preliminary final, it was going to be a big test for the side. The Central Coast had the best of the chances early, with Mile Sterjovski chipping Wanderers goalkeeper Ante Covic, only to be denied by the crossbar.

The sides first half dominance paid off, with Patrick Zwaanswijk scoring our first to hand us the 1-0 lead at the break. The goal coming off a McGlinchey corner, with the centre defender heading it home to open the scoring.

The striker did just that, sending Covic the wrong way as he blasted it into the top left corner. This two-goal advantage was maintained until the final whistle, as Graham Arnold’s side celebrated the historic and deserved victory.

That day is one of the proudest in the club’s history and will forever be remembered. Some of those ex-Mariners are in the stands tonight, others unable to attend. The club would like to thank all involved in that championship season, as they put the Central Coast on the map with a historic title.

The clear top two sides over the regular season, with ten points separating the second place Mariners from third place Victory, it was set to be a truly mouthwatering clash.

The new kids on the block against the side that had gone so close without secure the gold before, with a team to be crowned champions for the first time that Sunday afternoon.

Chances for both sides followed to kick off the second period, with nothing getting past Covic nor Mathew Ryan in the Mariners goal. That was until Wanderers defender Jerome Polenz handled the ball in the area, with McBreen given the responsibility to convert the subsequent penalty.

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EACH ENTRY WILL GO INTO THE DRAW

Draw will take place at the last home game of the season