The Central Coast Mariners have recorded their fourth win of the National Youth League season defeating Perth Glory 4-2 at 6PR Stadium in Perth on Saturday evening.
The Mariners came into the clash in seventh position with just 11 points from nine matches, but played like a side capable of much better things scoring freely against a Glory line-up that sits in third spot on the Youth League table.
Central Coast raced to a 2-0 lead in the first 36 minutes thanks to goals from James Oates and Marc Warren before the Glory answered just on half-time through Billy Quinncroft.
Perth was able to level the scores up soon after the break through Sam Mitchinson, but the Mariners hit back through Bernie Ibini-Isei and Mitchell Duke to secure the win.
The scoring begun for the Mariners in the 18th minute when Oates made an unchallenged run all the way to just outside the box, and he struck it perfectly to give Glory ‘keeper Tim Doyle no chance of stopping it as it scorched into the back of the net.
Central Coast controlled play for the majority of the rest of the first half and had several good chances to add a second goal, and that eventually came courtesy of Warren in the 36th minute.
A well directed corner found its way to the middle of the box for the Mariners and Warren laid on a beautiful header to again give Doyle no chance and Central Coast looked well on the way to a strong win with a two-nil lead after 36 minutes.
The Glory was able to sneak a goal back just on the verge of half-time, though, with Quinncroft picking up the crumbs from a near miss header that bounced off the side post to head one home himself.
The Mariners deserved the lead in the opening half, but had nothing to show for their good play five minutes into the second half when the Glory equalised. Mitchinson got on the end of a good cross, slid in and guided the ball home past Central Coast ‘keeper David Bradasevic.
Scores were only tied at 2-2 for eight minutes, with Central Coast regaining the advantage through a good strike from Ibini-Isei in the 58th minute.
The Mariners then ensured the full points with a fourth goal in the 76th minute through Duke and then held out the remaining 15 minutes for the emphatic victory.
Perth Glory 2 (Quinncroft 45′, Mitchinson 51′)
Central Coast Mariners 4 (Oates 17′, Warren 36′, Ibini-Isei 58′, Duke 76′)