Central Coast Mariners 5-1 Canberra United
by Texi Smith (25/10/26)
Above: Central Coast Mariners celebrate one of their five goals in yesterday’s huge win over Canberra United. Photo: Texi Smith for Impetus.
The new-look Central Coast Mariners topped off an afternoon of celebrations in Gosford with an outstanding display of pressing football to crush a stunned Canberra United 5-1 on Saturday afternoon.
An early goal from in-form Skye Halmarick set the scene, and by half-time, the home team were cruising with a second goal, this time from the head of Talia Kapetanellis. Classy midfielder Te Reremoana Walker added a third soon after the break and from then on it was a case of how many as the Mariners punished every turnover, Kapetanellis adding her second and Alexia Karrys-Stahl making it five with still ten minutes to play. A late rally from the visitors saw them reduce the arrears with a smart finish from Sienna Dale, but it was all too late as the Mariners made it an afternoon to remember with this handsome win.
Five minutes into the game, it was clear which team was in charge. Halmarick had already marauded up the right in the opening exchanges, and when Peta Trimis released Danika Matos on the same side moments later, her low cross was swept majestically past Sally James by Halmarick to open the scoring. The scores were almost level immediately though, with goalkeeper Morgan Aquino beating away a shot before tipping over from Michelle Heyman’s header seconds later, and Canberra matched their opponents for a stretch. Hayley Taylor-Young lashed a wild shot wide when the ball fell her way before Aquino got down low to foil her next attempt at the near post.
Walker began to assert herself in midfield, before teammate Rebecca Lake copped a freak hit to the face that halted proceedings. Lake was up quickly despite the solid hit, and the very next move saw the Mariners go two up; Trimis was allowed to run riot down the right again and she clipped a delightful ball in for Kapetanellis, who got ahead of Zoe Tolland, the header flashing past James for 2-0.
Kelli Brown had the home fans off their seats, clattering into Matos, but the referee took no action. The Mariners coasted to half time, but they could have easily made it three. Again Trimis was the architect, Halmarick rampaged up the right to deliver a delicious cross for Kapetanellis on the stretch who just couldn’t get the shot on target from close range.
If Canberra were searching for a swift turnaround after half time, they didn’t get it. Trimis had a chance in the first attack of the half, shooting wide with plenty of support in the box. Perhaps coach Dean Heffernan had asked his players to shoot on sight; Kapetanellis strode forward after intercepting in her own half, but elected for the spectacular instead of involving her teammates who were much better placed.
The exciting Eliza Familton weaved through the Canberra defence to win a corner, Trimis had her shot saved from the clever corner routine, and the tide was certainly coming in. It was no surprise when a recycled corner from Trimis caused mayhem in the Canberra six-yard box, and there was Walker, reacting first in the melee to stab home her first A-League goal.
The Mariners were just too strong for Canberra. The pressing from the home side gave the visitors no time on the ball, and every 50/50 ball seemed to fall to a yellow shirt. Trimis tried her luck from distance, James saving comfortably, before Canberra had a sight on goal, substitute Dale upended and fellow replacement Emily Condon firing in a free kick that Aquino smothered at the second attempt.
There were definitely more goals coming, and once more it was the right-hand side where the Mariners did the damage, Trimis brilliantly released Matos, whose cross was unmissable for Kapetanellis, who lashed the ball into the roof of the net from right in front for 4-0.
Substitute Karrys-Stahl fired over with a hopeful effort, but she was to have her moment soon after, battling away to stay in control before flicking the ball through the legs of her opponent, striding on and firing a missile into the bottom corner of James’ goal.
This was when Canberra finally reacted. It won two corners in quick succession, the referee unfazed when Aquino was bustled into the back of her own net, and United seemed to have taken the game up a notch. It was no surprise when Dale found herself in the area with Matos to beat, and she did what she does best, finishing past Aquino for a consolation goal to make it 5-1.
Heyman then played in Caley Tallon-Henniker with a searching ball, but Aquino got there just in time, and that led to the Mariners having a final chance to wrap up the goalscoring.
Teams: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (3-4-1-2): Aquino, Lake, Walker, King, Matos, Kraszula, Familton, Buchanan, Halmarick, Kapetanellis, Trimis. Substitutes: Barwick-Grey, Karrys-Stahl, Witz, Fuller, De Domizio, Iaria, Grove.
Scorers: Halmarick 6’, Kapetanellis 31’ 70’, Walker 55’, Karrys-Stahl 80’
CANBERRA UNITED (4-3-3): James, Taylor-Young, Anton, Ayson, Tolland, Sasaki, Gordon, Malone, Brown, Heyman, Christopherson Substitutes: Morgan, McMahon, Dale, Grove, Condon, Tallon-Henniker, Majstorovic
Scorers: Dale 87’
Referee: Charlotte Flynn.
Attendance: 1,576.
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