Newcastle Jets tore Central Coast Mariners apart in a 6-0 F3 Derby demolition on Saturday night to equal the biggest winning margin in the derby’s 20-year history.
The Mariners were reduced to 10 men in the first half after Storm Roux’s elbow on Jets midfielder Callum Timmins; trailing 1-0 at the time, the reigning Champions conceded a further five goals as Clayton Taylor ran riot in the derby with three assists and a goal by the 50-minute mark.
Eli Adams scored a late brace to extend the margin to six and equal the biggest winning margin in F3 Derby history (Jets 8-2 Mariners – April, 2018). The result not only ensured derby bragging rights for the Jets, but officially ended Central Coast’s hopes of reaching the Finals Series and defending their Championship crown.
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There were early signs that a special night was on the cards for the Jets when centre-back Aleksandar Susnjar bagged his first league goal for the club to get the scoring underway at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Susnjar lost his marker in Trent Sainsbury and strolled into the six-yard box for an unchallenged header after Clayton Taylor’s flick-on at the front post.
An injury to Mariners star Mikael Doka led to his substitution just beyond the half-hour mark; Storm Roux came on in Doka’s place but lasted just eight minutes on the pitch before collecting a straight red card for an elbow into the chest of Jets midfielder Callum Timmins.
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With a one-man and one-goal advantage, the Jets smelt blood in the derby and doubled their lead before the break; Taylor’s dangerous cross into the six-yard box was aimed toward Lachie Rose but Mariners captain Sainsbury, in his attempts to intervene, bundled the ball into the back of his own net as the hosts cruised to a 2-0 lead.
The travelling Mariners fans hoped to see a reaction from their side after the break but just five minutes into the second half, the Jets were out of sight.
Newcastle scored two quickfire goals to race to a 4-0 lead, beginning with Daniel Wilmering’s volleyed finish in the 48th minute. Like Susnjar, Wilmering’s F3 Derby goal was his first in the league for the Jets.
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Two minutes later it was 4-0 and Taylor, having assisted the first three of his side’s goals on Saturday night, put his name on the scoresheet to cap off his outstanding individual performance in the F3 Derby.
Taylor was substituted in the 76th minute to a standing ovation as Network 10 commentators Simon Hill and Daniel McBreen waxed lyrical over the 21-year-old’s display.
“Clayton Taylor, for me anyway, head and shoulders above the rest,” Hill said.
“I can’t disagree with that at all,” McBreen replied. “He’s been fantastic, and involved in everything going forward. Assists, three of them, and a goal of top quality as well. A fantastic performance tonight.”
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But prior to Taylor’s substitution, the Jets added another goal to the scoresheet as Eli Adams strolled into the box to make it 5-0 to the hosts. Set up by Kota Mizunuma, the 23-year-old added his eighth goal of the season to his tally.
Then came one final blow as the Jets hit the Mariners for six in the F3 Derby.
Adams secured his brace with virtually the last kick of the game, as the hosts romped to a 6-0 triumph – the equal-biggest winning margin in F3 Derby history.
It was the icing on the cake for the Jets on a memorable night in Newcastle, as the 6-0 win ended the club’s five-year wait for an F3 Derby win at home.
“Six of the best!” Said Hill on commentary.
“Maybe with the final kick of the evening, a double for Eli Adams, the Jets have run rampant over a ragged Central Coast Mariners, and equaled the biggest-ever winning margin in an F3 Derby. What a night for Newcastle!
“What a performance from the Newcastle Jets,” McBreen added.
“They have obliterated the Mariners.”
