Coast C Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 31 SShare
Mariners plan more of the same for Wanderers strong home crowd and the combined attacking force of Trent Buhagiar, Connor Pain and Roy O’Donovan could make “anything possible” in the Central Coast Mariners’ home match against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, December 3, according to midfielder Harry Ascroft.
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Walk of Fame launched
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“They are a very good team,” Ascroft said of the Western Sydney Wanderers, who have been playing well but not managing to get the points in the 2016-17 A-League competition to date. He complimented the Wanderers’ foreign players including Japanese signing Jumpei and midfielder Emilio Martinez. “Martinez is very good on the ball, so they will be very dangerous,” he said. “The results haven’t gone their way, so they will be looking to change that this weekend, but hopefully we will put on another performance like we did last week, and we will come away with a clean sheet and three points again.” Commenting on the Central Coast Mariners’ 2 to 0 win at home against Perth Glory on November 24, Ascroft said: “It was very good, a good return, a good 90 minutes personally, and as a team, a great performance, we kept a clean sheet, and of course, the three points is fantastic.” Ascroft and roommate Jake McGing “went viral” when their victory celebration, after Ascroft’s goal in the Glory game, resulted in McGing giving him a “love bite”. “Any publicity is good
Central Coast Mariner Harry Ascroft pleased with the outcome of the game against Perth Glory
publicity. “It went pretty viral and it is pretty funny because he is my roommate. “We laugh about it now, so it is all good. “We know each other really well, we room together, so there is that partnership there, and of course last season we played a lot of games together, and we have only just grown with experience.” The midfielder had praise for coach Paulo Okon and the style he has been building at the club. “Every game we’ve played, I think we have dominated possession, and I think that is the way he wants to play. “We’ve had multiple entries into the box and we just have to finish them more, and get more chances, and I think it is working very well.” Captain Nick Montgomery also earned some positive feedback from Ascroft. “He is absolutely fantastic, he leads from the front, he is an absolute workhorse, he won’t stop running and he is a pleasure to play with.” In terms of where the Mariners still have work to do, Ascroft said: “We definitely need to increase our ball speed and move
the ball faster along the pitch, and when we get those chances, we need to be clinical and finish them upfront, and obviously, some more clean sheets would be nice. “Our passing has been on point, we dominate, we like to dominate possession and get chances into the box, and it is clicking, there is still a lot of work to do, but it is going well. “We’ve got some absolutely fantastic players, Connor has been doing really well, Trent as you know was lightning on the weekend, and Roy is clinical with his finishing. “If we get the ball to those three and they come up with what they do, anything is possible.” He said the home crowd at the game against Perth was “amazing”. “The crowd was fantastic and they pushed us through, and thanks to them, and hopefully they will come out in numbers this weekend against the Wanderers. “We will get a big turnout and hopefully we will get the same result,” he said. Audio recording, Nov 28, 2016 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners
Mr Sheldon Kidd, Ms Lucy Wicks, Mr Kerry Ruffles, Ms Alison Broadbent and Mr Ian Reynolds outside the Central Coast Stadium, starting place for the Sporting Walk of Fame
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he Central Coast Sports Federation launched a Walk of Fame at Central Coast Stadium on Friday, November 25, with funding from the Stronger Communities Programme.
Construction of the walk has not commenced, but the launch was to celebrate securing up to $20,000 in funding needed to complete the project. Mr Sheldon Kidd said he had been working towards the project since 1998. “It’s been 20 years in the making, working alongside the Sports Federation to get this walk underway,” Mr Kidd said. “We have 20 plaques at the moment honouring people such as 1975 Sportsperson of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, golfer Billy Dunk, and Vicki Roycroft, an equestrian who competed at three Olympic Games,” Mr Kidd said. He said plans for another 40 plaques, extending the path even further, were in the works. “It will start at the stadium and make its way through Gosford CBD,” he said. Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian
Reynolds, said discussions on the direction of the route had been held and once plans were finalised, the aim was to have the walk constructed in 2017. “The route’s placement and construction are paramount to ensuring the Central Coast Sporting Walk of Fame best represents these amazing athletes and importantly, allows the Sports Federation to add new inductees and extend the walk over the coming years,” Mr Reynolds said. Wamberal resident and former Sydney Swift, Ms Alison Broadbent, attended the launch to show her support for the walk. Ms Broadbent was the 2004 sportsperson of the year and Hall of Fame inductee who represented Australia in 35 netball tests. Sports Federation Chair, Mr Kerry Ruffels, said the walk was a fantastic way to pay tribute to this region’s most outstanding
sportspeople. “The pathway to the stadium will feature our current Hall of Fame athletes and each individual plaque will remind us of their fabulous careers,” Mr Ruffels said. Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, said with the funding and the support from Central Coast Council, the Walk of Fame could be brought to life. “This project is an exceptional way to honour our local heroes who have represented our community on a national and global stage,” Ms Wicks said. Interview, Nov 26, 2016 Sheldon Kidd Media release, Nov 25, 2016 Tim Sowden, office of Lucy Wicks Media release, Nov 24, 2016 Kerry Ruffels, Sports Federation Jarrod Melmeth, Journalist