WITH their mid-season lull behind them, the Western NSW Mariners FC side will start the final third of their regular season tomorrow afternoon as they host the University of NSW at Proctor Park.
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Coming off back-to-back women’s Premier League 2 wins, including a good 2-0 away victory over Sutherland last weekend, the Mariners are back in the hunt for a top four finish, having dropped right off the pace at one stage.
A win tomorrow would put them within a point of UNSW, and with a game in hand after a wash-out two weeks ago they would suddenly be in the box seat for a post-season appearance.
In the wake of their recent revival, coach Tony Clancy has praised his team’s attitude and the impact of former head coach Adrian Cox, who has been involved recently in an assistant capacity.
“Training on Tuesday night was fantastic. There is a real good feeling among the team at the moment and they were very enthusiastic,” Clancy said.
“Hopefully that little slump is gone for good now. Basically, since Adrian has been on board again, things have started to improve and everyone has really stepped it up over the last three weeks.”
In their two meetings to date, the Mariners have only been able to take a single point from UNSW courtesy of their 1-all draw in the opening round.
UNSW had the better of a 3-2 result in round eight – encouraging in some respects, but also a sign that they are a team capable of doing some real scoreboard damage if given enough latitude.
UNSW are not alone in that ability.
“In this competition, basically all the teams play very positive, attacking football,” Clancy said.
“UNSW are a good side and they’re no exception to that. They are a good team to watch and punish you if you aren’t careful with your marking and with your passes.
“There are a couple of players in their side who are particularly skilful and can do a lot of damage.”
The Mariners will be at virtually full-strength for the match, but did suffer a blow last weekend when talented under 17s player Jess Doolan re-injured herself before getting back on the paddock with the senior team.
“She was going to come back off the bench for us last Sunday but, playing in the under 17s match, she tweaked that groin injury again,” the coach said.
“So we’re without her for a while. We’ll just have to wait and see how long that will be, but we don’t want it to happen to her again, so there won’t be any rush.”
The Mariners meet UNSW from 3pm at Proctor Park tomorrow afternoon.
WESTERN NSW MARINERS FC: Jess Daymond, Leah Draper, Meg McFarland, Jane Hanrahan, Katie Pakai-Kelly, Kelsey Sherman, Kya Godbier, Teigan Cox, Jess Salomoni, Megan Embleton, Erin Boxsell, Lyndell Bassett
