The Newcastle Jets have been defeated 2-0 by the Central Coast Mariners in the F3 Derby at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets have been defeated 2-0 by the Central Coast Mariners in the F3 Derby at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a tense opening 20 minutes to the clash with both sides enjoying spells of possession, but neither team creating any clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities.
The Mariners sent the first warning shot of the game in the 21st minute, with Oliver Bozanic latching onto a ball in behind the Jets- defence.
However, his attempted chip shot over the on-rushing Matthew Nash drifted wide of the goals and the Jets escaped.
The Jets were on the attack themselves just minutes later, with Bernardo Ribeiro-s prescise cross-field pass picking out the run of Craig Goodwin.
Goodwin skipped past Pedj Bojic before attempting to square the ball to Emile Heskey who was waiting inside the six-yard box.
Unfortunately for the Jets Members and supporters, Trent Sainsbury deflected Goodwin-s pass out for a corner.
Goodwin looked to be the Jets- best attacking outlet in the opening 45 minutes and he went close to opening the scoring with a right-footed volley from 20 metres out that flashed just wide of the post.
The Mariners had their own opportunities to hit the front, but Daniel McBreen was twice denied by sharp saves from Nash, Patrick Zwaanswijk headed into the side netting and Michael McGlinchey shot wide after a one-two with McBreen.
It was until after the half-time break that either team was able to convert one of their chances and it was the Mariners who went ahead through McBreen in the 49th minute.
The striker latched onto Josh Rose-s cross from the left flank and finished neatly at the near post with his right boot.
The Jets almost responded through marquee striker Emile Heskey in the 54th minute when he fired a shot on the turn into the side netting after being played in by Bernardo Ribeiro.
Central Coast doubled their lead when McBreen netted his brace in the 67th minute.
The big striker was picked out by McGlinchey-s pin-point corner and buried a powerful, uncontested header into the back of the net to make it 2-0 in favour of the visitors.
The Jets pushed hard to try and get a goal back over the course of the final 20 minutes, but they were unable to play the killer pass needed to unlock the compact Central Coast defence and the Mariners were able to hang on for a 2-0 victory.
Newcastle Jets 0
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 49-, 67′)
Crowd 13,112
Jets starting XI: 2. Scott Neville, 5. Dominik Ritter, 7. James Brown (19. Michael Bridges 77-), 8. Ruben Zadkovich (c), 9. Emile Heskey, 10. Bernardo Ribeiro (17. James Virgili), 11. Connor Chapman, 14. Taylor Regan, 15. Craig Goodwin, 18. Jacob Pepper (12. Josh Brillante 68-), 33. Matt Nash (gk).
Yellow cards: Chapman 82- Bridges 90-
Substitutes not used: 30. Jack Duncan (gk).
Central Coast Mariners starting XI: 2. Daniel McBreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson (c), 9. Bernie Ibini (8. Adriano Pellegrino 74-), 11. Oliver Bozanic (19. Mitchell Duke 58-), 14. Michael McGlinchey, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 18. Nick Montgomery, 20. Justin Pasfield (gk).
Yellow cards: Sainsbury 24-
Substitutes not used: 5. Zachary Anderson, 30. David Bradasevic (gk).
