FOOTBALL
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THE Central Coast Mariners showed tremendous character and fighting quality to down Canberra United 2-1 in Sunday evening’s Westfield W-League encounter at McKellar Park in the nation’s capital, despite playing almost the entire second half with only 10 players.
Orange’s Karina Roweth and Lyndsay Glohe played key roles for the Mariners in the side’s second win in succession in the inaugural national women’s competition.
Both players started the match, with defender Glohe outstanding in preventing the the powerful United line-up from scoring in general play.
Roweth was substituted just before half-time after only arriving back in the country days prior to the match following Australia’s AFC under 19 women’s championships qualification success in Vietnam.
Kyah Simon’s double, fresh from arriving back from Vietnam as well, was the difference for the visitors, with Ellie Brush netting in response for the home side.
The Mariners’ triumph was all the more sweeter given the adversity faced by the side following the early second-half dismissal of goalkeeper Lisa Hartley for a foul inside the penalty area.
Not only did Canberra draw level from the ensuing penalty, but the Mariners were forced into an unwelcome reshuffle that tested the resolve of a team that was ultimately immensely impressive in testing circumstances.
“We knew it was going to be tough to travel down here and play well,” Mariners coach Stephen Roche said after the match.
“We knew it would be a midfield battle and for 25 minutes in the first half we ran the show and kept the ball, which was really pleasing.
“To come away with such a fantastic result is testament to the character of this playing group and needless to say, today’s performance will give us great confidence moving forward.”
The Mariners’ win sees them placed equal first on the Westfield W-League table after three rounds, having recorded an impressive two wins from three starts, with Sunday’s triumph in Canberra surely the sweetest triumph to date.
“At half-time, we said that we needed to graft this out, we needed to chase everything and that’s exactly where our first goal came from,” said Roche.
“Kyah’s second goal was a very sweet strike and particularly in the last 10 minutes, we needed to show all of our resolve and character to hang on to the result in front of a very boisterous crowd.”
The Mariners’ campaign continues against the Queensland Roar at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday at 6pm.
