Inter Lions led throughout nearly the whole 90 minutes against the tough Mariners side, as Kirilee Cook opened the scoring as the home side headed to the break a goal to the good.

Teegan Courtney equalised for the Mariners in the second half, but strikes from Inter’s Samara Hammoud and Zoe Zaczek ended the comeback.

However the Mariners didn’t go quietly, peppering the goals in the final part of the game, making the Lions’ keeper produce some key saves to confirm the points.

Coach Josh Ward said he didn’t think the side played badly in the loss, with the Lions having the wind in the opening half and bombing long, but the Mariners resisted the temptation to do the same in the second. 

“We were trying to get our feed in the third half and get in behind them, which we did,” he said.

“We hit the crossbar a few times and their keeper made some good saves as well.”

Ward was also impressed with two debutants who had come up from the under 15 side to play their first games, with Anna Hunt one who “got into some really good positions” and had the chance to kick a few goals, while Ginger Oliver also played from the under 17s. 

“They held their own, obviously it’s different playing girl’s and women’s but they did well,” he said.

He said even despite the loss there were “good vibes” around the club.

“I sent a chat to the players this week and asked what they liked about the club and the main thing they said was that we were like a little family,” he said. 

The men’s side also had a rough time of in round 11 in National Premier League 3, with a brutal 8-0 loss to Bankstown City Lions on Saturday afternoon at Glen Willow Stadium in Mudgee.

After saying they had been competitive in first halves before dropping off after the break, the Waratahs conceded six goals in the first half and then a further two after the break. 

Still missing Matt Corben after he was suspended in their round nine clash, the men’s side struggled defensively, as the league’s top goal scorer, Lions’ Ante Tomic, helped himself to a hatrick to take his season tally to 15, while Tommy Markovski also picked up a hat-trick. 

The loss means the Mariners remain in second last on the ladder with just three draws to show from their efforts.

The men travel to Sydney to play SD Raiders FC, while the women play in Lithgow against Marco Stallions FC.