Newcastle Jets 0-2 Central Coast Mariners
By Ryan Miller-Woods 28/1/24
Above: The Central Coast Mariners hold aloft the F3 Derby trophy. Photo: Central Coast Mariners
In a highly entertaining F3 Derby that saw a combined 29 shots between the two sides, Central Coast Mariners have moved up to fifth on the A-League Women’s ladder after a well-deserved 2-0 win against Newcastle Jets.
Newcastle came close to scoring within the first minute thanks to a great run by Sarina Bolden. Her cross found Melina Ayres on the edge of the box, but the first-time shot just went wide.
Three minutes later, Rola Badawiya laid off an integral through ball for Wurigumula who seized the opportunity in front of goal. Her first-time shot put it past Isobel Nino and into the back of the net for the opening goal of the match.
Badawiya and Wurigumula have been really important signings for the Mariners in terms of their attack prowess this season and this goal personified that with the roles both players had in the end product.
Melindaj Barbieri almost equalised in the 11th minute for Newcastle from a free kick. Her delivery kept Sarah Langman honest who was forced to clear the ball away with a very good save that then went out for a corner. It would have been a great goal for Barbieri and the Jets had it been scored.
Seven minutes later, Central Coast came close to doubling their lead with Bianca Galic as her shot ricocheted off the post. Unlucky for both the Mariners and Galic that it didn’t go in.
Overall the first half an hour of the match was exactly what’s expected in an F3 Derby with end-to-end action, chances aplenty and excitement all round as neither team let up with how they both played.
In the first minute of stoppage time for the first half, Natasha Prior’s free kick for Newcastle went through the Central Coast defence and found Ayres in the box whose shot towards goal was denied via a great save by Langman.
Four minutes into the second half, Central Coast was once again unlucky not have doubled their lead. Peta Trimis made a great run into the box and slotted the ball across for Paige Hayward who’s first-time shot put the ball over the bar. Hayward probably would have wanted that opportunity back if it was possible.
In the 60th minute, Newcastle had another chance to equalise as Lauren Allan provided a cross for Ayres on the edge of the box. The first-time shot at goal went over the bar. In hindsight, Ayres probably could have taken more time to set up the shot at goal better for herself.
Twelve minutes later, Central Coast got their second goal of the match as Tiarna Karambasis provided an important through ball that found Hayward. She timed her moment and run as she controlled the ball and slotted it past Nino for her first goal of the season.
In the 83rd minute, Kyah Simon , made her long-awaited return to competitive football as she was substituted on for Trimis. It was her first competitive match since her ACL injury and first time she has been seen in the A-League since the 2020 Grand Final.
Ten minutes later, the Mariners had a great opportunity to have scored a third of the match as Annalise Rasmussen provided a great ball for Simon who then laid the ball off for Shadeene Evans, but the shot came off the crossbar.
Teams: Newcastle Jets (3-5-2): Nino, Cicco, Prior, Baumann, Gooch, Barberi, Davis, Copus-Brown, L. Allan, Bolden, Ayres. Substitutes: Rochaix, Wilson, Hoban, Hammond, Dundas..
Central Coast Mariners (3-4-1-2): Langman, Wardlow, Gomez, Irwin, Martin, Galic, Hayward, Bryson, Wurigumula, Badawiya, Trimis. Substitutes: Carmichael, Rasmussen, Simon, Karambasis, Evans.
Scorers: Wurigumula 4’, Hayward 72’.
Referee: Bec Mackie.
Attendance: TBC.
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