WESTERN NSW Mariners FC got the confidence builder they were after thanks to their FFA Cup preliminary round victory on Wednesday night.
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Ahead of this Saturday’s tough NSW Premier Leagues 3 encounter with Stanmore Hawks at Proctor Park, Mariners accounted for Glenhaven FC 3-0 in their cup fixture at the same venue.
It wasn’t perfect from the hosts in Wednesday's third round cup game (the first for the Mariners) but three first half goals, including a double to Nathan Davis, got the Western men home.
“It was pretty one-sided and it should have been a bigger win for us,” Mariners captain Adam Scimone said.
“We had so many chances but we couldn’t convert them. We were the dominant side and had all the ball but we couldn’t add any goals in the second half and probably took our foot off the pedal.
“We haven’t sung the team song for a while so it was just good to get the win, and the confidence that gives.”
Mariners found the front in less than 10 minutes when Davis got on the end of a cross.
Jackson Fuda doubled the advantage in spectacular fashion a further 10 minutes down the track.
Not long after finding his way past the half way line Fuda spotted the Glenhaven goalkeeper off his line and successfully launched a long range attempt into the corner of the goal.
Before the break Davis pushed the gap out to three goals when he found the target again.
While the weather may step in and prevent the Stanmore meeting from going ahead, Scimone said if the Mariners get on the pitch his team will be in for a good challenge.
“They’ve had a win over Dunbar Rovers then lost last week to Fraser Park, but Fraser Park are the competition heavyweights this season,” he said.
Meanwhile the Bathurst District Football season begins this weekend with a re-branded top grade competition.
The Fifty8 George men’s premier league and the women’s premier league will be the top tier competition for players this season.
Top grades will also include teams from Lithgow, Orange, Mudgee and Cowra.
“Ladies grades [numbers] have gone up by over 30 per cent this year and men’s by 15 per cent. Football in Bathurst is rising and we’ve got a larger men’s and ladies first grade competition,” BDF president Andrew Speed said.
“Hopefully the weather’s a bit nicer to us this year than last year, and we can get a good season in.”
