The Mariners have jumped into the Hyundai A-League’s top six after notching a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over Perth Glory at Central Coast Stadium on Thursday night.
Defender Harry Ascroft, making his first start of the season, opened the scoring from a corner in the first-half with Roy O’Donovan doubling his side’s advantage after the break with a cool finish.
The Glory’s endeavours were not helped by injuries to key personnel but in truth the final scoreline flattered the visitors as the Mariners were rampant throughout.
Paul Okon’s side had a couple of shouts for a penalty waved away and an O’Donovan finish chalked off in the opening stanza, while Connor Pain rattled the crossbar with a thumping strike late on.
The three points is the Mariners first home win in almost 11 months as they climb to sixth, while the result extends Glory’s poor record in Gosford and sees them remain fourth.
GOALS
1-0 Central Coast Mariners: Harry Ascroft, 30’
Having earned a corner skipper Nick Montgomery swung the ball into a dangerous area with the Mariners defender winning the second ball and sweeping it home with a left-footed finish from six yards out.
2-0 Central Coast Mariners: Roy O’Donovan, 63’
A mishit shot from Montgomery fortuitously played O’Donovan in behind the Glory defence, with the Irishman calmly slotting past keeper Liam Reddy to register his fifth goal in five games against Perth.
OPTA DATA
- The Mariners’ cleansheet was their first in 36 matches and the first of goalkeeper Paul Izzo’s Hyundai A-League career.
- Glory’s Rhys Williams became the first player who’ll miss a match due to an accumulation of yellow cards this season after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign.
INJURY WARD
The Glory lost right back Josh Risdon before kick-off after he picked up an injury in the warm-up with Shane Lowry promoted to the starting side and forcing a backline reshuffle.
There were further injury woes for the visitors when reigning Johnny Warren Medallist Diego Castro had to be substituted after just 16 minutes, with Adam Taggart his replacement.
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