Central Coast Mariners have survived a late challenge from Adelaide United to record the club’s first win since 2009 after rejoining the Liberty A-League for the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season.
Captain Taren King scored the Mariners’ first goal of the season before Chinese international Wurigumula doubled the advantage shortly after half-time. Reds defender Ella Tonkin halved the deficit with just over 20 minutes left on the clock, but the visiting Mariners held firm to record a 2-1 win, responding in style to an opening-round defeat to Newcastle Jets.
The Mariners dominated early proceedings with scholarship signing Claudia Jenkins performing valiantly in goal for the Reds; Jenkins was called into multiple early saves as the visitors ramped up the forward pressure.
But then came a chance against the grain, forged by an incisive reverse pass by Adelaide recruit Alana Jancevski; her through pass was met by Rosetta Taylor in the box, who rounded the keeper before Mariners defender Ashley Irwin slid in to smother the shot on goal, collecting a knee to the head for her troubles.
Chances were otherwise few and far between for the home side, and when the Mariners got back on top, they made their dominance count with the opening goal scored by captain Taren King with a brave header in the box. King was clattered by Jenkins rushing off her line in an attempt to deal with a corner routine, but King got her head to the ball first to loop her attempt over the line, despite Ella Tonkin’s best efforts to clear.
Central Coast’s dominance continued into the second half. Chinese international striker Wurigumula had two quick-fire chances soon after the break, before breaking through in the 56th minute with a goal scored off an Isabel Gomez cross to double the lead.
At 2-0 the Mariners looked set to cruise to their first win in the 2023-24 season, until a goal out of the blue gave Adelaide a lifeline. It came in the form of a close-range Ella Tonkin finish off the back of a classy training ground move, with a corner fed to the edge of the box for Dylan Holmes to pick a first-time pass into the box for Sarah Morgan to set up Tonkin at the back post.
But the Mariners managed to stave off the fast-finishing Adelaide, preserving their one-goal lead to win in the Liberty A-League for the first time since November 27, 2009.
The talking point
The drought ends
November 27, 2009: the Mariners defeat Newcastle Jets 3-1 in the formerly-named W-League. Michelle Heyman – today’s all-time record goalscorer and appearance-maker in Liberty A-League history – was on the scoresheet for the Mariners on that day, as a rising 21-year-old star of the competition.
If you needed a reminder of how long it has been since the Mariners were last winners in the competition, there it is. History was made in Adelaide on Friday afternoon as Central Coast won a Liberty A-League game for the first time in nearly 14 years.
“We are (seeing) in the celebrations and the reaction of the players right now, exactly what it means to them and this club to get this first win,” said Paramount+ co-commentator and Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney, as she watched the Mariners players lap up the milestone win post-game.
“It’s enormous. A massive congratulations to Emily Husband as the coach getting her first win, it’s a great night for football.”
The star
Taren King
Who else but the captain, and the first goalscorer in the Mariners’ Liberty A-League comeback?
King scored the first goal of the season for the Mariners with a brave first-half header, setting a tone for her team to follow for the remainder of the game.
What’s next?
For the Mariners, Friday afternoon’s win on the road helps mitigate the damage of that Round 1 defeat at home to the Jets. Emily Husband’s side returns to Gosford in Round 3 for a clash with Brisbane Roar on November 12.
The Reds, meanwhile, are winless from two games to begin the season – and the challenges continue to roll in with a road trip to face Melbourne Victory in Round 3. Adrian Stenta’s side have conceded six goals so far this season. They’ve scored five themselves, with both figures boosted by a 4-4 draw with Canberra United in Round 1. But Stenta will be hoping to see less goals leaked moving forward as a two-game road trip presents – first to Melbourne, and then out West to take on Perth Glory.
