Mariners draw with Roar

Central Coast Mariners Youth kicked off their Foxtel National Youth League 2014/15 campaign with a 0-0 draw against Brisbane Roar Youth in Tuggerah on Sunday.

Stu Jacobs’ charges enjoyed the lions share of possession and opportunities throughout the 90 minutes on the Central Coast, though couldn’t make their dominance pay dividends as the two sides ground out a goalless stalemate at the yellow and navy’s Centre of Excellence.

Mariners Youth skipper, Josh Bingham, toiled hard throughout the game for Central Coast upfront, and was one of the players who went close to scoring for Jacobs’ side. However, the young forward – who ventured to the Gold Coast with the Club’s first team for their Westfield FFA Cup win over Palm Beach Sharks in midweek – was also sent off late in the game for picking up his second yellow card.

Mariners Youth started the game brightly and nearly took the lead when Bingham rounded Roar Youth custodian Fraser Chalmers early on. Wide out from goal and on the angle, Bingham’s shot just missed the target.  

Sam Perre rushed forward soon after however Chalmers did well to hold the low strike from the impressive winger at the first attempt.

Another good opportunity for the young yellow and navy arrived soon after when Bingham nodded just over from Tom Slater’s centre.

The game settled thereafter until just after half time when Roar nearly broke the deadlock after Devante Clut fired at goal. His effort had venom behind it, but Adam Pearce between the Central Coast sticks did well to collect.

Both teams tried hard to net the game’s only goal but it was the Mariners who came closest as the clock wound down through substitute Trent Buhagiar. First, Buhagiar’s powerful deflected strike stuck the woodwork, before the 16-year-old’s audacious left foot volley brought the very best out of Chalmers in the Roar goal.

Jacobs would not be displeased with his charges’ start to the new campaign – the freshly assembled mini Mariners produced plenty of positive signs in their first competitive fixture together.  

Central Coast Mariners Youth 0
Brisbane Roar Youth 0
Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence
Referee:
Lachlan Daniel

Central Coast Mariners Youth: 1. Adam Pearce, 3. Lewis Beumie, 6. Jake McGing, 7. Anthony Kalik, 8. Liam Rose (10. Jesse Curran 55’), 9. Josh Bingham, 11. Tom Slater, 13. Sam Perre (14. Trent Buhagiar 83’), 15. Hayden Morton, 16. Michael Neill, 17. Yianni Spyrakis
Substitutes not used: 5. Nic Petrillo, 20. Nicholas Sorras
Yellow cards: Bingham (2)
Red cards: Bingham

Brisbane Roar Youth: 1. Fraser Chalmers, 2. Jaiden Walker, 6. Benjamin Liftin, 11. Devante Clut (17. Stephen O’Neill 72’), 12. Daniel Bowles, 13. Mitchell Hore, 14. Jordan Lampard (22. Sandro Pasalic 76’) 15. Lachlan Jackson, 16. Patrick Theodore, 18. Abrahim Yango (20. Nicholas D’Agostino 72’), 19. Shelford Dais
Substitutes not used: 21. Tomislav Bilic
Yellow cards: Dais, O’Neill
Red cards: Nil