Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC have settled for a scoreless draw in a pre-season trial at Leichhardt Oval on Monday night.
Sydney started brightly as Matt Jurman put John Aloisi through, the Mariners saved by the assistant referee’s flag, while at the other end Adrian Caceres was causing some problems, countering following a Sydney mistake to give Clint Bolton his first touch of the night.
New Central Coast signing Chris Doig was busy at the back twice intercepting Sydney attacks, but the Mariners were creating problems of their own for the Sky Blues back four, and Caceres was again heavily involved.
Playing on the right flank, Caceres picked up the ball on the break, playing a neat one-two with Ahmad Elrich before sending Pedj Bojic down the wing, his ball into the box unlucky to not find a friendly head.
An unlucky rebound off John Aloisi sent Sydney on the attack again, his through ball whipped in by Brendan Gan, however new Slovakian signing Karol Kisel could only watch his volley fly wide of the post.
The yellow and navy enjoyed their best chance of the half on 34 minutes, when trialist Gary Wales found Nik Mrdja on the edge of the area, who, after bringing the ball down and turning neatly, was fouled by Jurman just a yard outside the box.
Mrdja’s ensuing free kick narrowly missing the chance to put his side ahead, the curling effort grazing the crossbar.
Sydney could have closed out the half with an addition to the scoresheet, Brendan Gan and Alex Brosque again involved, as Brosque’s shot was parried clear by Vukovic, ensuring both sides would head into half time with honours even.
Dean Heffernan found himself in the book shortly after the break after tussling with Shannon Cole, but the Mariners kept attacking, Mrdja sending Wales down the left, his ball in finding John Hutchinson, the Malta international unable to get a shot away.
Heffernan then went on a strong run into the box shortly after following good lead up work by Caceres and Bojic.
Danny Vukovic was called upon to deny Terry McFlynn after Bojic lost out to Brosque in midfield, the Mariners custodian doing brilliantly to turn the Northern Irishman’s shot around the post.
As the clock wound down, McKinna took the opportunity to hand starts to trialists Lim Dong Sup and product of the Sheffield United youth setup Nick Travis, and while the Mariners won a late corner, neither side was able to break down their opponents defences.
Chris Payne with the final chance of the match, firing wide as the first derby of the new season ended without score.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners: 20. Danny Vukovic (gk), 4. Pedj Bojic (23. Adam Kwasnik 68′), 7. John Hutchinson, 8. Dean Heffernan, 9. Nik Mrdja (27. Milos Lujic 61′), 10. Adrian Caceres (22. Nick Travis 84′), 13. Chris Doig, 16. Nigel Boogaard, 18. Alex Wilkinson (c), 21. Ahmad Elrich (2. Lim Dong Sup 61′), 26.Gary Wales.
Unused Subs 30. Andrew Redmayne (gk) , 6. David D’Apuzzo.
Yellow Cards Heffernan (48′)
Red Cards None
Goals None
Sydney FC 1. Clint Bolton (gk), 4. Simon Colosimo, 6. Karol Kisel, 12. Shannon Cole (18. Adam Casey 62′), 14. Alex Brosque, 15. Terry McFlynn, 22. Sung Hwan Byun, 23. John Aloisi (16. Chris Payne 75′), 27. Matthew Jurman, 32. Brendan Gan, 35. Kofi Danning.
Unused Subs 20. Ivan Necevski (gk), 5. Mitchell Prentice, 8. Stuart Musialik, 34. Rhyan Grant.
