Central Coast Mariners 0-1 Adelaide United
by Isabelle Campbell (4/1/25)
Above: Greta Kraszula, who made her A-League Women debut for Central Coast Mariners today. Photo: Central Coast Mariners.
Adelaide United earned an excellent win on the road at Central Coast Mariners today thanks to Emily Hodgson’s goal after nine minutes at Woy Woy Oval.
Entering the match with just one point separating them on the table, it was a high stakes game for both sides. However, the Mariners carried confidence into the fixture, having claimed victory in their last five encounters against the visitors.
Adelaide United started the match firing, with Emily Hodgson opening the scoring from inside the penalty area following a beautiful assist from Chelsie Dawber. It was Hodgson’s first goal in eight years, marking a memorable moment for the defender. Moments later, Dawber nearly added her own name to the scoresheet, but Sarah Langman made a routine save to deny her.
Central Coast had a few attempts of their own, including an effort from Shadeene Evans that lacked direction and failed to trouble Adelaide’s defense. Taylor Ray also tried her luck but sent her shot off target. Langman was called into action again with a stop to shut down another attempt from Dawber, keeping Adelaide from furthering their lead.
Lucía León smartly drew a foul from Ray to earn Adelaide a free-kick in a dangerous position. However, the resulting effort sailed over the crossbar. Fiona Worts, looking to add to her tally of six goals this season, also had a chance but failed to convert.
At halftime, the match remained tightly contested, with possession and shots at goal fairly even. However, Adelaide United continued to look the more threatening side, recording four shots on target compared to the Mariners’ two.
The second half started slowly, with both teams struggling to find rhythm early on. In time though, the shots came flowing. Annalise Rasmussen made a strong run forward and delivered a lovely cross into the box, finding the head of Nunn, who was unable to direct her effort on target. Matilda McNamara came up big for Adelaide, making a vital block to deny Tess Quilligan’s shot, which looked destined to test the goalkeeper.
Central Coast’s recent signing from the AFLW, Sarah Rowe, fired a shot from distance headed straight toward goal but it was easily dealt with by Claudia Jenkins. Nunn tried her luck again with a long-range strike that appeared to be heading in, but Jenkins once again reacted flawlessly to send the effort away from danger. Rasmussen followed up with another attempt, only for McNamara to make another solid block and keep the Mariners at bay.
Both teams made several substitutions in an attempt to spark some life into the match during a lull in play. Peta Trimis delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Annabel Martin, whose header sailed over the bar, leaving her still searching for her first goal in the league.
Late in the game, a yellow card for Jenkins handed the Mariners a free-kick just outside the box, but they failed to convert the opportunity. Adelaide United held firm through added time, securing a 1-0 victory and ending their losing streak against the Mariners.
Next up for the Mariners is a trip to take on Western Sydney Wanderers, aiming to regain confidence. Adelaide United are now in the midst of a busy spell of three games in eight days with them now travelling to Newcastle Jets on Wednesday before hosting Wellington Phoenix next Sunday.
Teams: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-3-3): Langman, Nash, Martin, Pennock, Galic, Ray, Rasmussen, Rowe, Quilligan, Nunn, Evans. Substitutes: Carmichael, Fuller, Kraszula, Puxty, Trimis.
ADELAIDE UNITED (4-1-4-1): Jenkins, E. Hodgson, León, McNamara, Tonkin, Tolland, Dewey, Morgan, Condon, Dawber, Worts. Substitutes: Grove, Sasaki, Bowler, Panagaris, Healy.
Goals: Hodgson 9′.
Referee: Page Malau-Aduli.
Attendance: 981.
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