Mariners close the gap

The Central Coast Mariners have heaped pressure on second placed Adelaide United with a 1-0 win at Bluetongue Stadium on Wednesday night. This was the first of five consecutive home games for the Mariners, who are closing in on a top two finish.

Both sides started well with early chances at both ends. Argentine playmaker Patricio Perez was given only his third start in an injury marred first season, and made his presence known early on. His driving run and pass from midfield in just the second minute set up Adam Kwasnik who’s shot was straight at Fury goalkeeper Justin Pasfield.

A minute later Chris Payne cleverly created space for himself in the box, turned his defender and sent a stinging shot on goal that was well saved by Mariners ‘keeper Matt Ryan.

Perez was again the architect for another Kwasnik chance, the two linking after a delicate chip over the defence found the Mariners striker who was again wasteful.

Both sides had further good chances before Kwasnik broke the deadlock with his eighth goal in ten matches. Michael McGlinchey fed Matt Simon on the right who crossed perfectly for Kwasnik to head home above his marker.

The Fury continued to cause problems for the Mariners defence with David Williams setting up decent chances for Chris Payne and Gareth Edds, but both were denied by young gloveman Matt Ryan and the score remained 1-0 at the break.

The Fury looked rejuvenated in the early stages of the second half, but began to visibly weary after a busy schedule, playing their fifth match in nineteen days. This was in stark contrast with a fresh Central Coast side who were well-rested after the abandoned fixture against Gold Coast United.

The first signs of this fatigue saw Matt Simon shrug off his defender far too easily to take substitute Mustafa Amini’s fantastic chip through on goal. One-on-one with Pasfield, Simon should have made it 2-0 to the Mariners but blasted his shot straight at the ‘keeper who has signed with the Central Coast for next season.

Tired defending was again evident throughout the remainder of the second half as the Fury defence was unlocked time and time again but the Mariners failed to take advantage with poor finishing.

The win puts the Mariners within touching distance of the Reds with four consecutive home games to come. The Fury, clearly affected by their busy playing schedule still sit well outside finals places and face Wellington at home in their next fixture, with three points vital.