Central Coast Mariners will remain in NPLM NSW next season after overcoming fellow A-Leagues academy side Bulls FC Academy in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off.
The Mariners’ top-flight status was emphatically confirmed on Friday night thanks to a 4-0 rout of Bulls FC Academy at Pluim Park, where Central Coast sealed a 5-2 aggregate success.
Craig Noone’s Bulls – who finished second in Football NSW League Two – had won the opening leg 2-1 on home soil but they were no match for a rampant Mariners, who triumphed thanks to a Nicholas Duarte brace and goals via Bailey Brandtman and Donatien Niyonkuru.
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Described as a moment of “pure brilliance” by the Mariners, it was Brandtman’s stunning lob over Bulls goalkeeper Alexander Robinson that not only made it 3-0 following goals from Duarte and Niyonkuru, but caught the attention on a memorable night for Central Coast.
Duarte ended the season with six goals for the Mariners.
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“The result shows how good the boys were today,” said Mariners head coach Lucas Vilela via Football NSW after Central Coast ended the 2024 NPLM NSW season 15th and in the relegation play-off position.
“We were much better in our decision making tonight and we adjusted from our mistakes last weekend.
“We are an NPL side and that showed tonight in front of a crowd which spurred us on.
“We saw this as an opportunity to take, it’s a different kind of game and the players took it against a quality team in Bulls FC Academy.
“We of course want to avoid these kind of games particularly since it’s not good for my heart.”
Brandtman’s incredible goal – converted nonchalantly – further highlighted the quality of the 19-year-old forward and he looms as another Central Coast talent set to break out in 2024-25.
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The talented Australian, who ended the season with three goals, has been a mainstay of the Mariners academy over the past two campaigns.
At the end of the NPLM NSW regular season, Brandtman ranked third for assists (seven), while he was also in the top 15 for dribbles averaged per 90 minutes (11th – 5.85) and progressive runs per 90 (13th – 2.37). He was also 20th for offensive duals per 90 (13.3 – 34.8% success rate) and 20th for progressive passes (5.32).
Brandtman signed a scholarship deal with the Mariners in October last year, having scored for the Subway Young Socceroos against France and Denmark at the Marbella Week of Football.
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He also made his A-Leagues debut last season as Mark Jackson’s Central Coast claimed an historic treble – the Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership-Championship double and AFC Cup, where he also made three appearances.
Brandtman played 41 minutes in Central Coast’s 2024 Australia Cup Round-of-32 extra-time loss to NPLM VIC side Heidelberg United.
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