The Central Coast Mariners have recorded their first ever Westfield W-League win securing an impressive 3-1 victory over Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium.
The match was a high energy and entertaining encounter throughout despite a scoreless first half.
The arm-wrestle that was the opening half eventually gave way to a match increasingly dominated by a Mariners side that grew with confidence by the minute.
Renee Rollason proved to be the star turning topping an impressive performance in the centre of the park with two goals.
Both goalkeepers were kept busy in the first half despite the lack of goals.
Collette McCallum was the architect of many of the Glory’s openings, and it was a free-kick from the Matildas midfielder that nearly saw the opening goal.
Ciara Conway bundled the deflected free-kick over the line but the Glory were denied by an offside flag.
The deadlock looked sure to be broken just past the hour mark with an epic scramble in the Glory goalmouth eventually cleared to safety after a number of spectacular defensive blocks and goalkeeping saves.
The Mariners’ second half dominance finally paid off after 69 minutes with Trudy Camilleri forcing home from close range after fine work down the left flank from young gun Stephanie Haim.
Rollason scored the first of her brace in unusual circumstances eight minutes from time with her low corner from the left creeping in at the near post.
Typical of their battling performance, the Glory fought back to score a deserved goal with Shannon May on hand to score from point-blank range.
The Mariners though were not to be denied and they rounded out the scoring with an injury-time penalty for a handball that was coolly converted by Rollason.
“We were much better than last week, most definitely,” said Mariners coach Stephen Roche.
“I felt we were quite flat against Melbourne Victory, though tonight we were much more comfortable on the ball, and we moved it around very well.”
“Our midfielders had a great match and Renee (Rollason) scoring a double was fantastic.”
“It does raise the confidence in sight of our next match,” said Roche, looking ahead to what is set to be an intriguing fixture for the Mariners away to Canberra next weekend.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Trudy Camilleri 69-, Renee Rollason 83-/91-(pen))
Perth Glory 1 (Shannon May 85-)
Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta
Crowd: 832
Saturday 1 November 2008
Referee: Amelia Morris
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 20.Lisa HARTLEY (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Lyndsay GLOHE, 4.Rachael DOYLE, 5.Jodie BAIN, 8.Renee ROLLASON, 11.Stephanie HAIM (18.Emma STEWART 81-), 12.Gill FOSTER, 13.Trudy CAMILLERI (16.Kathryn PRYER 92-), 14.Taryn ROCKALL (15.Elizabeth O-REILLY 57-), 17.Britt SIMMONS.
Substitutes not used: 1.Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
Yellow cards: Caitlin Cooper 32-, Renee Rollason 70-, Lyndsay Glohe 84-
Red Cards: Nil
Perth Glory line-up: 1.Kate STEWART (gk), 2.Stacey LEARMONT, 3.Carys HAWKINS, 5.Shannon MAY, 7.Ciara CONWAY (6.Katarina JUKIC 53-), 8.Tanya OXTOBY (c), 13.Elisa D-OVIDIO, 14.Collette McCALLUM, 15.Elle SEMMENS, 16.Rachael SMITH, 18.Shiya LIM (12.Danielle CALAUTTI 46-)
Substitutes not used: 19.Emily DUNN, 20.Maya DIEDERICHSEN (gk)
Yellow cards: Katarina Jukic 87-
Red Cards: Nil
