After ending a frustrating goal drought last week Central Coast striker Matt Simon will be out to find the back of the net again when the Mariners take on Wellington in the Hyundai A-League at Westpac Stadium on Friday night.
While his work rate and ball distribution was first class during the first three rounds of the season Simon needed to start scoring goals.
He was a relieved man when he netted the first goal in Central Coast’s 2-1 win over Perth at Bluetongue Stadium last week.
“I was pretty happy with how I was playing but as a striker you are always judged on how many goals you score,” said Simon, who has now scored 32 goals for the Mariners.
“Now one has gone in hopefully a few more will follow. I’ve just got to keep working hard.”
A key to the Mariners win last week was Simon’s combination up front with young strike partner Berni Ibini.
Ibini celebrated his first Hyundai A-League start with what turned out to be the winning goal in first-half injury time against Perth.
The Young Socceroo cramped up and was replaced late in the second half, but has pulled up well at training this week.
“I really enjoyed playing with Bernie,” Simon said.
“It’s the first time we’ve started together and I think it worked pretty well. He is a very good young talent.”
Fellow Young Socceroo Mustafa Amini is expected to get more game time against the Phoenix.
Amini made his first Hyundai A-League appearance of the season off the bench last week and backed up to play 60 minutes for the club’s youth team the following day.
The attacking midfielder is slowly returning to the fitness that saw him light up the Hyundai A-League last season.
