Pulsating F3 delivers the goods as derbies thrive

The advent of Melbourne Heart and the Western Sydney Wanderers has created rivalries which the competition has craved since its inception. Although the respective Melbourne and Sydney derbies are in their infancy they have become true showpiece events which captivate the Australian football community.

But despite the publicity which these derbies receive many pundits forget that the original A-League derby started with the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners. 

The F3 derby started as a local rivalry in season one of the competition and quickly developed into a fierce contest in the first few years of the competition.

Although the contest has perhaps lost its currency in media circles of late, the rivalry is still as strong as ever. And the first F3 derby of the season proved it.

In perhaps the game of the season to date the Jets and Mariners played out an enthralling 2-2 draw at Hunter Stadium in front of a healthy crowd of 13,744. The Jets had yet to score prior to this match and coach Gary Van Egmond has been under immense pressure from fans and media speculating about his future.

Step up Scott Neville.

The Jets fullback pounced on a rebound inside the Mariners six yard box and slotted home the team’s first goal of the season, sending Hunter Stadium into raptures.

The intensity of the game was immense with both sides engaging in a physical battle and a number of nasty challenges delivered six yellow cards.  

At 2-0 the Jets looked comfortable, but a change of formation and substitutions by Graham Arnold gave the Mariners more impetus and got them back in the match.