Football
P8 - GRANDSTAND - February 7, 2013
Mariners clear on top in National Youth League as well by Ray Sandell
he Central Coast Mariners Youth team completed an Australia Day weekend double for the Club when they defeated Adelaide United 2 goals to 1 on Saturday, January 26, at Tuggerah.
T
The Mariners dominated from the kick off with Adriano Pellegrino penetrating into the Adelaide penalty area and forcing two early corner kicks. About eight minutes into the match, Pellegrino and Adelaide’s captain Jacob Melling “had words” after a tackle and referee Kevin Peddie showed Pellegrino a red card. Despite the loss of their main midfielder, the Mariners continued to press and it was really no surprise when, on the 24 minute mark, they attacked down the right hand side and Patrick Dixon opened the scoring with a shot from just inside the penalty area. Five minutes later the
Adelaide defence made a blunder that left Brad McDonald with the task of slotting the ball into an empty net for goal number two. Adelaide started to make a few ventures into the Mariners’ penalty area but were still unable to penetrate the hard working defenders. Too often runs by Awer Mabil ended with crosses into the danger zone, but either none of his team mates were there, or the Mariners’ defenders were on hand to clear the ball. Adelaide came out for the second half in a more determined manner and immediately went on the attack. Ten minutes after the break the ball was played well into the Mariners half and goal keeper David Bradesevic came out of his penalty area to clear the ball but mistimed his kick. Thomas Briscoe had a simple job to score, albeit he shot from at least 35 metres out from goal. Adelaide continued and Bradesevic made up for
his early blunder by busily thwarting the opposition. Mabil hit the cross bar around the 76th minute mark, but other than that they never looked like scoring. With seven minutes remaining, Hayden Morton was shown a straight red card for what appeared to be a yellow card offence. Down to nine men, the Mariners worked hard and were able to keep the opposition at bay until the final whistle. None worked harder than the two big boys at the back, Brent Griffiths and McDonald. Adelaide were well served by Mabil and Melling. The Mariners have increased their lead at the top of the table to six points, dependant on the result of Melbourne Victory’s Sunday match against third placed Melbourne Heart. Mariner’s coach John McLafferty said he was pleased with the way his team had performed under hard circumstances.
Central Coast Mariners Player listing: 1 Daniel BRADASEVIC (gk), 4 Kieren PAULL, 5 Haydn MORTON (c), 6 Daniel BRAGG ( 2 Nikola STANOJEVIC 61m), 7 Adam JENNER, 8 Adriano PELLEGRINO, 12 Patrick DIXON (9 Aaron PETERSON 54m), 13 Brent GRIFFITHS, 14 Jordan CHRIGHTON (11 Louis BOZANIC 57m), 15 Brad McDONALD, 17 Anthony CACERES, Subs not used: 20 Daniel SADAKA (gk) Coach: John McLAFFERTY Yellow Cards: 13 Brent GRIFFITHS 35m, 3 Jordan
CHRIGHTON 44m, 11 Louis BOZANIC 66 m. Red Cards: 8 Adriano PELLEGRINO 8m, 5 Jayden MORTON 83m. Adelaide United Player listing: 1 John HALL (gk), 2 Shaun HARVEY 913 Daniel PRITCHARD 57m), 4 Sasa ZEKANOVIC (9 John KARATZAS 46m), 5 Scott VAGEL, 6 Jake MONACO, 7 Liam WOODING (c), 8 Thomas BRISCOE, 10 Dion KIRK, 12 Jordan ELSEY, 14 Awer MABIL, 15 Jacob MELLING ( 11 Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS 57m). Subs not used: 29 Paul IZZO (gk)
Coach: Michael VALKANIS Yellow Cards: 12 Jordan ELSEY 1m, 14 Awer MABIL 29m, 10 Dion KIRK 54m. Red Cards: Nil Referee: Kevin PEDDIE Assistant Referees: Byron JAYE and Glen PETERKIN Fourth Official: Adrian ARNDT Players to watch: Central Coast Mariners: Brent GRIFFITHS, Brad McDONALD and Daniel BRAGG. Adelaide United: Jacob MELLING, Awer MABIL and Jake MONACO.
Morton and Neill sign two year contracts
by Central Coast Mariners Media
o u n g s t e r s Hayden Morton and Michael Neill have been rewarded for their stellar form in the 2012-13 National Youth League (NYL) competition with two-year Hyundai A-League contracts with Central Coast Mariners.
Y
Versatile defender Morton and left-back Neill, both 18, have starred for John McLafferty’s youth team this campaign, and have impressed the Mariners coaching staff in their efforts at first team training. Morton made his debut appearance in Australia’s top
flight in round 13 this season against Sydney FC, handling himself impressively in a highpressure encounter at Allianz Stadium. Having been selected in Paul Okon’s last three Qantas Young Socceroos squads, Morton is in the reckoning to feature at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey later this year. Neill previously played with Sutherland Sharks in the NSW Premier League and has been rewarded for his cultured, composed play down the left flank this campaign, as well as his progress since joining the Club. While Morton and Neill’s senior contracts include the 2013-14 and 2014-15
Hyundai A-League seasons, both players have also signed extensions to their current NYL deals to ensure they are part of Central Coast’s 2013 AFC Champions League squad. Goalkeeper David Bradasevic, 19, has also extended his youth contract for the Mariners’ third foray into Asia’s premier club competition. Morton and Neill have expressed their delight in signing for the reigning Hyundai A-League Premiers. “I am really happy with getting a professional contract,” Morton said. “It’s been my dream since I was young and I am really pleased.
Mannings Sports
“I have a lot of room to improve and I think Arnie (Graham Arnold) is the best coach, especially for young boys. “Hopefully I can improve a lot and keep doing well,” he added. Neill said he was looking to learn from arguably Central Coast’s most consistent player, Josh Rose, during his time with the Club. “When I am sitting off on the sidelines Mossy (Phil Moss) and Arnie get me to watch the little things that he (Rose) does and just take into account how he plays as player. “There are little things he does that I can do better,” Neill said.
“It’s a privilege to be playing at such a great club and I’m just looking to develop as a player.” Central Coast Mariners head coach Graham Arnold said Morton and Neill were two players who deserved their chance as fully-fledged professionals. “Hayden is an U20 international with the Young Socceroos and has had one appearance with us already. “He’s fitted into the group real well, and we’re expecting big things off him,” Arnold said. “Micky Neill, he’s a left footer, a young Josh Rose. “Both have been given two-year contracts to give them time to develop and
hopefully by the time Josh Rose retires Micky Neill will be ready. “We’re about youth up here at the Mariners. “When I first came in twoand-a-half years ago now I signed six 18-year-olds, and I like to give them two years to develop,” he said. Central Coast Mariners chairman Mr Peter Turnbull added: “It is really exciting to see the chain of great young talent continuing to come into the Mariners and being given the chance to compete at the highest level. “We expect big things from the lads, as we do from all players we give their first pro contracts to.”
LAWN BOWLS SPECIALISTS BOWLS SETS ALL BRANDS FROM $545.00 CLOTHING - PANTS, SHIRTS, HATS, JACKETS ALL COLOURS LARGE RANGE OF BOWLS SHOES FROM $59.99 TROLLY BAGS & CARRY BAGS
172 Mann Street, Gosford 4325 1617 www.manningssports.com.au
chorizo, cheese, hash brown, 100% grilled chicket breast fillet, bbq sauce and mayo
Offer expires 1.12.2012. Limit of one offer per Offer expires 1.12.2012. Limit of one offer per coupon, per customer. Set combinations apply. Only coupon, per customer. Set combinations apply. Only available at KFC Woy Woy. available at KFC Woy Woy.
2,775kJ | $6.95
The average adult daily energy intake is 8,700kJ
.)& :R\ :R\ %ODFNZDOO 5G