THE Western NSW Mariners’ FC have continued their encouraging opening to the 2015 season by winning their first round match in the State League 1 competition 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at David Bertinshaw Field in Sydney.
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A goal to Kane Hughes in the first half proved to be the difference between the Mariners and their Hawkesbury City SC opponents.
The Mariners went into the game confident courtesy of a 4-1 win over Blacktown in their first Football Federation of Australia Cup match a week earlier.
Immediately they were shown that things wouldn’t be so easy this time, and they were under plenty of pressure from their opposition in the first 15 minutes.
Gradually, after starting in scrappy fashion and turning over plenty of ball, they started to find some rhythm when in possession and the balance of the game shifted.
On the half-hour mark, Hughes made the most of his team’s first real opportunity to give them a lead, one that they would not relinquish despite having to withstand some strong Hawkesbury attack at the back end of the game.
“That opening 15 minutes wasn’t great. We didn’t hold the ball well or stay composed and they had a couple of chances to score, but we defended well enough to stop that from happening,” coach Andrew Fearnley said.
“After that our control improved and we got that goal, which led to a good period of dominance for the last 15 minutes of the first half and the opening 20 in the second half.
“We had more chances to go further ahead and kill the game off but missed and at the back end of the game we were forced to do a lot of defending as they threw everybody forward. It was a pretty valuable win, especially away from home.”
Ricky Guihot and Duncan Logan both drew high praise from the coach for their displays on Saturday.
In the past the Mariners have suffered from poor starts to their season that have forced them to go into a mode of play where they are as conscious of avoiding relegation.
Saturday’s was just one win, but it starts things on a good note – particularly given that it was away from home – and coupled with their FFA Cup win, it gives them great momentum.
They can add to it again tonight in their next FFA Cup game against St Clair United in Sydney.
“It is certainly pretty pleasing to be able to get away to that start, but we need to be a bit better and show more composure at times. The clean sheet was the most pleasing aspect,” Fearnley said.
“We’ve stood by the fact that if we’re limiting the goals we let in, that’s the best way to be a contender for a finals spot.
“This week we’ve got St Clair and we just need to get into this game and get the job done. There’s no reason for us to be complacent.
“This team will be keen to beat us because for an Association side to beat a State League team, it would be the highlight of their season.
“Our intensity has to be high.”
WESTERN NSW MARINERS FC 1 (Kane Hughes) defeated HAWKESBURY CITY SC 0
