Central Coast Mariners vs Newcastle Jets: A-League live scores, blog

Match Results:

The Newcastle Jets have handed the Central Coast Mariners a thrashing to open their A-League season in Gosford on Saturday night.

Final score
Central Coast Mariners 1
Newcastle Jets 5

» Click here to read the full match report

Match Preview:

The Central Coast Mariners will look to start the new season on a high when hosting few wooden spoon favourites the Newcastle Jets this afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 5:35pm AEDT.

The Central Coast Mariners, once a finals and champions contender each year, are now a wooden spoon favourite and a side no team in the A-League fears.

There is no doubt in suggesting the clubs’ fall from grace has been drastic and despite picking up some form towards the end of last season, it’s hard to see them competing this year.

However, if there is one team that the Mariners would want to face in order to kickstart their season, it would be their fierce rivals Newcastle.

The Mariners have a solid record against the Jets, especially at home where they have fond memories thrashing their big rivals in years past.

Today, they will look forwards to some of their youth players who despite the clubs recent decline has some promising youngsters in their ranks.

The likes of Connor Pain, Appiah and more are the bright sparks that the Central Coast need to be a major force in the future.

Additionally, these games against their rivals can really build confidence and character, so despite being the first game of the season, it may be one of the more important games for the club.

On the flip side of the coin we have the Newcastle Jets, who along with their league counterpart have struggled financially on and off the field.

The Jets, despite some young and good signings show no real signs of improving on last seasons wooden spoon.

However, if there was any a time to step up it’s in a big game against your fierce rivals, meaning a win today may kickstart something special for the Newcastle side.

Additionally, the few signings the Jets made look to be impressive ones. The likes of Demi Petratos and and his brother Kosta will add some quality to the side and with some big game players in the side like Andrew Nabbout and Nigel Boogaard, the Jets certainly have a chance.

Prediction
This should be a very close game, a draw seems likely here which both teams should happily take.

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