Central Coast Mariners 0-1 Newcastle Jets
By Emma Burke (14/10/23)
Above: Newcastle’s players bask in the aftermath of Melina Ayres’ goal. Photo: Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets have claimed the first win of the 2023/24 season over Central Coast Mariners in a 1-0 defeat thanks to a header from marquee signing Melina Ayres.
Central Coast Mariners made their return to the A-League Women’s after a 14-year absence with a goalkeeper in their starting eleven that they had announced the signing of only ninety minutes beforehand.
Courtney Newbon then proceeded to have an incredible game between the sticks, facing a total of twenty-three shots over the course of the game, and making a fantastic double save to deny the Jets in the first half.
While the opening half was very much about shaking off the cobwebs, of which one team certainly had more than the other, there was a level of physicality that was not going to be easily eluded.
The F3 Derby (named after the former name of the Pacific Motorway, which connects Newcastle and the Central Coast), had a total of six yellow cards and also saw the first and second red cards of the season shown.
A scuffle erupted late in the second half after Jets captain Cassidy Davis fouled Mariner Bianca Galic. Rising frustrations lead to defenders from each team, Alexandra Huynh from the Jets, and Faye Bryson from the Mariners bodily colliding, and a scuffle evolved from there with multiple players shoving at each other.
The pair were eventually ejected from the pitch, reducing both sides to 10 players, and was ultimately the catalyst for the game-winning goal for Newcastle.
Newcastle was able to find the breakthrough when substitute Laura Gooch was left alone to chase down the ball on the right flank, and she had ample time to check and see where to send in the cross.
Her cross was expectedly well delivered and found the waiting head of Melina Ayres, who only had to redirect the ball to the back of the net.
The Jets were then able to run out the game comfortably and take home all three points available.
Round Two will see both teams hit the road, Newcastle head to Perth to face the Glory, and the Mariners down to Adelaide to try and find their first points for the season.
Teams: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS: Newbon, Bryson, Irwin, Martin, Gomez, Galic, Badawiya (Karrys-Stahl 87′), Rasmussen (Wurigumula 55′), Wardlow, King, Karambasis (Trimis 55′).
NEWCASTLE JETS: Nino, Cicco, Prior, Huynh, Baumann, Davis, Dundas (Burrows 68′), Copus-Brown, L. Allan (Gooch 55′), Barbieri (Hammons 90′), Ayres.
Scorer: Ayres 81’.
Referee: Kate Jacewicz.
Attendance: 5,735
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