A hat-trick to former-Mariner, Roy O’Donovan would help the Jets secure a 5 –1 victory in their opening match of the 2017/18 Hyundai A-League season.
The victory – an F3 Derby record – was a resounding one for the visitors, buoyed by some 2,000 travelling Jets fans.
A frenetic start to the opening exchanges saw a free kick go the way of the Mariners, as they went on the attack early. It would be the home side who would take the lead early as Asdrubal (5’) found the back of the net from a set piece.
The Jets would fight back quickly, as O’Donovan (9’) was fouled inside the box and made no mistake from the spot.
The Irishman received a rousing reception from the home crowd, but he didn’t let that or the pre-game build up phase him as he hammered home the Jets advantage with a second goal (28’) shortly after.
A pinpoint cross from Andrew Nabbout as half time approached saw O’Donovan complete his hat-trick in the opening stanza with a superb header, taking the Jets to a 3 – 1 lead at the break.
The first half closed with some fiery clashes that rung true to the Derby tradition as Georgievski and Ugarkovic saw yellow.
That fire burned between the opposing sides as the second half got underway, with the Mariners working to close the deficit with ample territory and possession.
Nikolai Topor-Stanley starred at the back and was ably supported by his fellow backmen and Jack Duncan, who made a number of crucial saves as the match wore on.
The Jets’ newest import, Ronald Vargas looked dangerous in his A-League debut with some classy touches through the midfield – before being replaced by Wayne Brown just past the hour mark.
Another debutant would make waves in this fixture, with Joe Champness finding the back of the net (81’) within minutes of taking the field.
With the lead at 4 – 1 a well-deserved goal to the tireless Dimi Petratos (90’) would sink the home side and cap off a fantastic performance from the Jets.
As it happened:
2’ | 0 – 0 | Mariners pressing early as Boogs forces one behind for a corner #CCMvNEW
4’ | 1 – 0 | And the Mariners open their account for the season thorugh Asdrubal as he knocks one in off the back of another corner for the home side #CCMvNEW
5’ | 1 – 0 | O’Donovan taken down in the box! Penalty Jets #CCMvNEW
7’ | 1 – 1 | GOAL! The Irishman finds the back of the net and we’re all square in Gosford! #CCMvNEW
21’ | 1 – 1 | CHANCE! Header into the post from Kanta and a great save from the Mariners custodian as Boogs looked to put it away #CCMvNEW
27’ | 2 – 1 | GOAL! Make that two for our boy, Roy! And don’t the Mariners fas just love it… #CCMvNEW
27’ | 2 – 1 | Vargas, Petratos, Nabout, O’Donovan. All had a hand in cracking Jets goal! #CCMvNEW
34’ | 2 – 1 | CHANCE! O’Donovan almost had three, but was called offside. Jets with all the running here #CCMvNEW
38’ | 3 – 1 | GOAL! O’Donovan has THREE! A sharp cross from Nabbout as the Irishman heads it past Glover and into the top right #CCMvNEW
40’ | 3 – 1 | Some theatrics from Asdrubal earns Georgievski a yellow card #CCMvNEW
45’ | 3 – 1 | A yellow card for Ugarkovic as things get a little heated before the break #CCMvNEW
49’ | 3 – 1 | CHANCE! Nabbout finds some space and the back of the net, but is ruled offside #CCMvNEW
62’ | 3 – 1 | Dimi Petratos running rings around Mariners defenders here – all class! #CCMvNEW
65’ | 3 – 1 | Nabbout brought down in an illegal challenge, free kick in good position for the Jets #CCMvNEW
66’ | 3 – 1 | CHANCE! Topor Stanley gets around the back of the pack and almost gets his head to it, great cross from Petratos #CCMvNEW
75’ | 3 – 1 | CHANCE! Some fast footwork from Petratos followed by a neat cross sees an O’Donovan header sail over the crossbar #CCMvNEW
77’ | 3 – 1 | Andrew Nabbout is substituted for young gun, Joe Champness as he makes his official debut for the club #CCMvNEW
80’ | 4 – 1 | GOOOOAL! Joe Champness finds the back of the net! #CCMvNEW
80′ | 4 – 1 | And the Newcastle chant goes up from the travelling supporters, how good is this!? #CCMvNEW
83’ | 4 – 1 | Duncan with a great save! Clutch play from the young custodian #CCMvNEW
89’ | 5 – 1 | GOOOAAAL! Petratos with a wonderful strike into the top right corner! The boys putting on an absolute clinic here #CCMvNEW
FULL TIME | That’s all she wrote here in Gosford, one for the record books. What a win! #CCMvNEW
Ground: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Attendance: 12,044
Referee: Jonothan Barreiro
Central Coast Mariners: 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Jake McGING, 5. Antony GOLEC, 6. Tom HIARIEJ, 9. Felix ASDRUVAL PADRON HERNANDEZ, 10. Daniel DE SILVA, 11. Connor PAIN, 13. Kwabena APPIAH-KUBI, 15. Alan BARO CALABUIG, 18. Thomas GLOVER (GK), 23. Wout BRAMA
Subs: 1. Ben Kennedy (GK), 12. Trent BUHAGIAR, 14. Adam BERRY, 16. Liam ROSE, 17. Josh BINGHAM
Subs Not Used: Ben KENNEDY, Adam BERRY
Yellow Cards: Rose (45’+2), Baro (90’+2)
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: Asdrubal (5’)
Newcastle Jets:
1. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 4. Nigel BOOGAARD, 5. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Dimitri PETRATOS, 8. Ronald VARGAS, 9. Roy O’DONOVAN, 13. Ivan VUJICA, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 44. Nikolai Topor-STANLEY
Subs: 10. Wayne BROWN, , 16. Nick COWBURN, 20. Glen MOSS (GK), 22. Lachlan JACKSON, 24. Joe CHAMPNESS,
Subs Not Used: Glenn MOSS, Lachlan JACKSON
Yellow Cards: Georgievski (42’), Ugrakovic (45’+1), Nabbout (61’)
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: O’Donovan (9’, 28’, 38’), Champness (81’), Petratos (90’)
