Two goals from Central Coast striker Kyah Simon gave the Mariners a 2-1 win over Canberra United in their Westfield W-League encounter on Sunday at McKellar Park in Canberra.
Goalkeeping errors cost both sides goals and, in Central Coast’s case, a player in a tense second half.
After a goalless first half the second started with two goals and the sending off of Mariners keeper Lisa Hartley within the first five minutes, sparking the match into action and swinging it into Canberra’s favour.
A lack of composure in the second half meant Canberra couldn’t capitalise on its player advantage, with Simon’s brace securing the points for the visitors.
The win added to the Mariners’ victory over Perth Glory last weekend, while Canberra failed to get anything out of their first home match of the season.
An interesting battle between Hartley and Canberra forward Sasha McDonnell was the only real highlight of the first half, with Hartley stopping two excellent opportunities for the home side.
In the 27th minute, McDonnell capitalised on a slip up by the Mariners’ defence but Hartley saved low to deny her a goal before doing it again with a brilliant save late in the half after the Canberra forward linked up with Kara Mowbray on the edge of the area.
The second half started with a bang after an error from Canberra keeper Lydia Williams.
Simon chased down a weak back pass just after kick off and blocked Williams’ attempted clearance before tapping into an unguarded net for the first goal of the match.
Minutes later, a mistake from Williams’ counterpart Hartley let Canberra back into the match. Hartley fumbled the ball in front of goal and then brought down Mowbray.
After some deliberation, referee Jacqui Melksham pointed to the spot and gave Hartley her marching orders.
Captain Ellie Brush slotted the resulting penalty but it was brought back for encroachment. Brush kept her nerve and she blasted past replacement keeper Emma-Kate Dewhurst to level the scores.
Canberra pressed but could not take advantage of its extra player and Simon silenced the home crowd with her second goal in the 70th minute.
The Young Matilda found herself in a wide area and managed to loop her shot over Williams to make it 2-1 for the Mariners.
The Mariners held out attack after attack from United until the final whistle allowed them an unlikely victory in front of 1600 disappointed Canberra fans.
Simon played down what appeared to be a spectacular winning goal, labelling it a ‘cross’, but she felt the result was just.
“We put in the hard work and the girls and myself deserved the win,” she said.
“To come down here and be underrated against a Canberra side – it was a good win.”
Canberra coach Robbie Hooker was disappointed with the result, suggesting his side deserved at least a point.
“We didn’t deserve to win, but we didn’t deserve to lose,” Hooker said.
“They had zero chances created off their own play but they ended up with two goals.”
“That was probably the worst performance of the season so far.”
“We didn’t have enough players that were on top of their game today and that was probably the difference.”
Match Details
Canberra United 1 (Ellie Brush 51- pen)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Kyah Simon 46-/73-)
McKellar Park, McKellar
Sunday 9 November 2008
Referee: Jacqui Melksham
Canberra United line-up: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 3.Amy CHAPMAN, 5.Sasha MCDONNELL, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 8.Rebecca KITING (22.Elanor RAYMOND 81-), 9.Grace GILL, 11.Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 12.Kara MOWBRAY, 13.Thea SLATYER, 15.Nicole SYKES (17.Christine WALTERS 81-), 18.Lucy ALLAN (14.Ashleigh SYKES 51-)
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Maja BLASCH (gk)
Yellow Cards: Ellie Brush 61-, Kara Mowbray 64-, Cian Maciejewski 90′
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 20.Lisa HARTLEY (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Lyndsay GLOHE, 4.Rachael DOYLE, 5.Jodie BAIN, 6.Karina ROWETH (15.Elizabeth O-REILLY 42-), 7.Teresa POLIAS (1.Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk) 49-), 8.Renee ROLLASON, 10.Kyah SIMON, 12.Gill FOSTER, 13.Trudy CAMILLERI (11.Stephanie HAIM 85-)
Substitutes Not Used: 17.Britt SIMMONS
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Lisa Hartley 48-
