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Central Coast bounced back to form and claimed local honours with a 1-0 A-League win over Newcastle in a low-key F3 derby at Bluetongue Stadium last night.
A fine first-half goal to Mariners striker Dylan Macallister in his first A-League start, proved the difference in a match which lacked the usual intensity shown by the close NSW rivals.
The win moves the Mariners momentarily into third place, just one point behind joint league leaders Melbourne and Adelaide.
Central Coast looked a vastly different side from the one which lost 1-0 to Wellington last Sunday in a performance coach Lawrie McKinna described as “shocking”.
McKinna opted for a three-pronged attack last night with Macallister playing in between Matt Simon and Sahso Petrovski – and it paid dividends with MacCallister in particular playing a starring role.
The big striker had almost all of his side’s first-half chances and looked certain to score from close range in the 25th minute before being denied only by brilliant Ante Covic save.
But the former Australian youth international got the goal he deserved in the 33rd minute when Simon broke loose on the right and cut a low ball back to the top of the box.
Macallister, who has returned to Australia after four years in Norway’s top flight, then masterfully controlled, turned and slotted the ball home, despite being surrounded by three Jets defenders.
It was his third goal of the season after scoring twice in five appearances as a substitute.
“We played with three strikers and it really worked out for us,” Macallister said.
“I was just really happy to get that one and come away with the three points.
“The boys just gave 100 per cent and dominated the game and we deserved it.”
Macallister continued to cause trouble early in the second half before Newcastle’s Ecuadorian striker Edmundo Zura came close to scoring in the 59th minute, just as he had midway through the first half.
Mariners defender Brad Porter was spared scoring the bizarre own goal by a whisker when he headed a Mark Milligan cross into the ground and just over his own goalposts in the 70th minute.
Jets winger Jobe Wheelhouse missed a good chance to equalise with five minutes to go while striker Joel Griffiths had a 20m free kick tipped over the bar in the 90th minute.
Nik Mrdja could have made it 2-0 in injury time but Danny Vukovic capped a fine game with another good save.
The Mariners’ win came without key midfielder Mile Jedinak, who was ruled out before the match with a groin injury.
Former Sydney FC defender Milligan, who was signed by the Jets midweek after being unable to land a contract in Europe, got through 70 minutes for the Jets but was understandably rusty after a lengthy break from the game.
McKinna said his gamble of playing three strikers allowed the Mariners to catch the Jets on the hop and praised his front men for both their defensive and attacking contributions.
He was thrilled with the dramatic turnaround from Sunday’s loss.
“Last week was a bad day at the office, we had to forget about it and move on,” McKinna said.
“It was a short turnaround and we’re playing against the Jets and I said that was the best thing could have and it was.
“It was a good solid performance at home and winning at home is important, the fans coming here want to see you win and it doesn’t mater if it’s messy sometimes as long as you get that win.”
The Mariners will now head into another NSW derby, against Sydney FC next Saturday, full of confidence.
The Jets remain fifth after last night’s loss but coach Gary van Egmond said the tight competition meant it was too soon for the reigning premiers to worry about their position.
“The most important part for us is the way that we play and the performance and that wasn’t the way Newcastle play and that was the most frustrating thing,” van Egmond said.
“I thought the game was pretty even and if you look at it on a whole I would suggest we had the most possession, but possession doesn’t always win you games and that was very evident.”
The derby was played in front of a disappointing crowd of just over 10,700.
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