Western NSW Mariners have put a buffer between themselves and last-placed Fraser Park FC on the NSW National Premier League 3 ladder after a strong 2-1 win over a spiralling Dulwich Hill on home turf on Saturday.
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The win included the first top-level goal for teenager Ryan Campbell who, fresh off a 90 minute run in the under 20s, was an early replacement for Jaiden Culbert, who was substituted early on after a gnarly challenge.
Nil-all at half-time, the Mariners jumped out of the blocks after the break, with plenty of attacking plays through midfield livewire Kenny McCall setting up Western’s two goals for the match, with a brilliant pass to Campbell for the first and a perfect corner which was headed past the Dulwich keeper by Paul Longs for the second.
One forwards who was on the end of McCall’s forward passes was Adam Scimone, who said the midfielder had a “blinder” on Saturday.
“In that position he dominated the mids and gave us plenty of chances,” Scimone said.
He also lauded the game Brock Logan in goals, and that of Campbell, who would have the “monkey off his back” after breaking through for his first goal after several strong games coming on as substitute.
“The way he was going out on the right side it was always going to come (this week), he was killing it and was all over their left back,” Scimone said.
Dulwich Hill have been in all sorts since half a side left the club in the mid-season transfer window, and have lost six of their last seven matches in NPL3, sliding to ninth on the standings.
Scimone said the Mariners looked to take full advantage of that to pick up the win.
“They’ve been in a downward spiral since losing six or seven players and we knew they’d leaked 20 goals in the past month or so and we wanted to take it to them,” he said.
“We’ve had pretty poor second halves all year, and after being nil-all at half time we wanted to hit them with everything we had.”
Western now sit four points – a win and a draw – clear of last-placed Fraser Park.
They also sit 11 points clear of Fraser Park in the Club Championship, which determines relegation.
However, Mariners are still two wins away from overtaking Stanmore Hawks or Inter Lions FC on the first grade ladder.
The Mariners face a stiff challenge next week when they come up against ladder-leaders St George City in Orange on Saturday, and play two more members of the current top four in the next month.
They will have to face St George without Scimone, too – the forward picked up his fifth yellow card for the season, meaning he has to miss the Mariners’ next game.
The Mariners have been bolstered by the return of skipper Nikki Spice form injury, who alongside Logan was a key pillar in the Mariner’s defence.