The Central Coast Mariners will look to mount a push up the A-League ladder when they host the Perth Glory at Central Coast Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEDT).
The Mariners have struggled yet again this season registering just a single victory after eight rounds of competition. They’ll be searching for form as they welcome a Perth Glory side who are coming off a convincing 3-1 victory over bottom-placed Adelaide United.
To make matters worse, the Mariners haven’t won at home since Round 13 last season, losing seven times and drawing twice since.
Last time out, the Central Coast scrimmaged to a 1-1 draw with fellow wooden spoon contenders and rivals the Newcastle Jets in the F3 derby.
They’ll need to be significantly better on Thursday night if they want to get anything from a Perth side who have scored more goals than any other A-League side this season bar league leaders Sydney FC.
The home side’s defence will need to be resolute to keep out the likes of attacking threats Andy Keogh and Diego Castro among others. Contrastingly, the Glory have conceded the equal most goals this season, and the Mariners will be hoping they can find their shooting boots.
Past meetings between these sides suggest three points is no sure thing for the Glory.
The last time these two sides met, an entertaining 3-3 stalemate was the outcome. In the last five, the Glory have the wood over the Mariners emerging victorious twice, along with a pair of draws.
The players to watch for either side are their Irish strikers. For the home team, Roy O’Donovan leads the way this season, having netted three times – more than any other Mariners player. Conversely, Andy Keogh has lit up the A-League this season, and sits as tied top scorer in the league on six goals.
Additionally, only the Jets’ Andrew Hoole has created more chances this season than the Glory’s Nebojsa Marinkovic.
Prediction
The Glory should have too much firepower for the stuttering Mariners.
Mariners 1-3 Glory
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Kurt
Guest
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Bondy
Guest
Midfielder Hopefully we can get rid of Faty & Tavares in the transfer window " Walmsley's mistakes ", we need a decent centre half to marshal the troops and a decent striker too . I'd throw young Blake Powell in next to Monty in the midfield and with Ferrera fit that would be good going forward , also in the transfer window we only need mild tinkering not radical surgery .. I notice Okon's coming out of his shell as Gaffa too which is good ...
Midfielder
Guest
We played the best we have in two years Okon is bringing his babies along... Berry and the Trent Boy ... as well as others Okon could be the buy of the season
marcel
Guest
A good crowd for a commuter town on a Thurs night.
Hammerhead
Guest
Glory has been terrible against the Mariners for as long as the Mariners have existed (Round 1 2005/06 to be precise).
Mister Football
Roar Guru
5,296 in Gosford tonight.
Gossie fan
Guest
Great commentry tonight!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Thanks Jake!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me for this entertaining clash between the Mariners and the Glory. I hope you enjoyed my coverage and stay with the Roar as we bring you all the action from Round Eight in the A-League.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
FULLTIME AT CENTRAL COAST STADIUM Central Coast Mariners 2 Perth Glory 0 Well, a monumental night for the Mariners. It had been 36 matches since they'd kept a clean sheet but they've finally done it with a cracking performance at home against the Glory. They were on top for the vast majority of the night and were great value for the victory. Goals went to Harry Ascroft with a great bring down and finish on the half hour mark. While the second was knocked in on the 63rd minute as Montgomery's attempted strike fell to Roy O'Donovan who kept his cool and slid home a finish past Liam Reddy. The Glory looked off the mark from the word go, but weren't helped by the late omission of Josh Risdon and the early departure of Diego Castro with a hamstring concern. The Mariners now move up to 6th and will be thrilled with their performance tonight. Standout performances from Connor Pain, who was lethal going forward with his pace and skipper Nick Montgomery who marshalled the midfield wonderfully. What an evening at Central Coast Stadium! At full time, Mariners 2. Glory 0.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Well done Mariners, good to see.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Stunning from the Mariners !!!! Deserved victory. Paul Okon is a genius.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+3' The Glory go forward with numbers but they can't control it and the ball is grasped by Izzo. Surely they're home now?! 2-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+2' Cheers as Taggart gives away another free kick for handball. This time as he turned to shoot inside the area. 2-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90+!' The corner comes in and Lowry gets up well for it. His header only just goes over the bar as Izzo watches rooted to the spot. Wouldn't have been a popular goal at Central Coast Stadium. 2-0 it remains.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90' We'll play three minutes of stoppage time now. Can the Mariners hold on for this clean sheet?! Its been 36 weeks since their last one. 2-0
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
88' Connor Pain smashes the cross bar!! Well, a fine advantage paid by the referee as Pain goes oh so close to aking it three. Looked like he had the time and space to carry it forward and slide past Reddy but he took on the strike and hit it well. Unfortunately his effort couldn't beat the woodwork Would really have put the icing on the cake on what will be a famous victory for the Mariners. 2-0
Swanny
Guest
With so much talk lately of kicking the Mariners out of the Como Now the mariners are coming 6 th. Maybe we should start a petition to kick out the teams below them out the ladder , such as wanderes Adelaide.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Ferreira toooo slow to get the ball out from his feet. Good tackle Williams.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
85' Pain to O'Donovan in space as the Mariners funnel forward again. Not a bad touch from Roy who then cuts it back to Ferreira in the centre of the area. Ferreira a bit rusty off the bench though as he allows Williams the time to track back and neutralise the danger. 2-0