Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold said his team’s 4-0 thumping of Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night was the team’s best performance of the season thus far.
The Mariners made light work of the Reds racing to a 3-0 lead at half-time before adding another goal in the second half to round out the drubbing.
Arnold said the first-half dominance set up the Mariners’ win as they cemented their spot in second place on the ladder.
The former Qantas Socceroos assistant also hoped the win, which extended their unbeaten streak to six matches – including five victories, would encourage stronger support at Bluetongue Stadium.
“I thought the first half was outstanding and tonight was without a doubt our best and most professional performance,” Arnold said.
“It sets up a great Saturday night next week in the F3 derby (against Newcastle Jets) at home.”
“These boys deserve a full house for once or at least over 15,000 at home … hopefully they get a big crowd to support what they’re doing and what they’ve done last season.”
With the Mariners building on from their runner-up finish from last season, Arnold credited much of this season’s promising start to the blend of youth and experience in the squad.
Talented 18-year-old Mustafa Amini and veteran Pedj Bojic were prime examples of Arnold’s said mixture in the win over Adelaide.
The two were influential for the Mariners throughout and had a hand in the first two goals.
Amini sparked the three-goal eight-minute burst when he opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a well-worked goal after combining with Bojic before another talented youngster Bernie Ibini added a second.
Experienced pair Patrick Zwaanswijk and Rosyton Griffiths scored the third and fourth.
“I think the boys have been growing over the last six or seven weeks and I can’t give a big enough wrap to young Musty (Amini), Bernie (Ibini) and Matty Ryan in goals,” Arnold said.
“I have a lot of faith and belief in Australian youngsters … if you don’t give them a go, you never know what they can do.”
“As I regularly say though you can’t have too many good youngsters out there without very good senior players who can lead them around the park.”
“Patrick (Zwaanswijk), (Alex) Wilkinson, Royston Griffiths, Matty Simon and (John) Hutchinson are five of them (senior players) who are always very positive, helping the kids enormously and coaching them on the field.”
“Musty, Bernie and Matty Ryan could fit in at any club, but again it’s always the senior boys that I’m proud of because of what they do for the younger boys.”
Dutch defender Zwaanswijk, who found the net yet again for the Mariners after coolly converting the penalty awarded to Ibini in the first half, shared his coach’s view.
“The youngsters come in and just fill in the gaps pretty easily and that makes our team, I think at this moment, really good,” Zwaanswijk said.
“Everybody likes each other and works great with each other so it’s pretty easy for everyone to fit in as well which is a great thing.”
“I think the last six weeks it’s been a real pleasure to see how well the team has played.”
