The Mariners wouldn’t win the chook raffle at the Central Coast Leagues Club if they were holding the only ticket and conducting the draw themselves.
Just like Ralph Wiggum’s televised heartbreak at the Krusty the Clown Anniversary Special, there was a moment in yesterday’s F3 derby when you could actually pinpoint the second the Mariners blew their chance of victory.
It came in the 63rd minute when Connor Pain robbed possession from Newcastle defender Jason Hoffman and burst through one-on-one with Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss.
Presented with the opportunity to double the Central Coast’s lead, Pain instead rolled a tame shot from the edge of the 18-yard box which Moss got down to save with ease.
Pain took less than four minutes to open his goalscoring account for the season. He’s barely looked like scoring since.
It’s symptomatic of a Mariners side that tries hard but ultimately lacks the quality to trouble literally any of the other nine sides in the A-League.
They really shouldn’t lack the quality though.
In their starting side yesterday was one bloke with more than 50 caps for New Zealand, another who came directly from the English Premier League and a former Newcastle Jets winger you’d think would have the biggest point to prove of all.
So what’s the problem? Is it the coach?
This is the same Mike Mulvey, it’s worth remembering, who won the premiers plate by ten points with Brisbane Roar before masterminding a grand final win in his only full season in charge.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Is it a lack of local players and a disconnect with the local Gosford community?
It’s hard to see how with Matt Simon – the Wizard of Woy Woy – up front.
So what is it then?
If anyone knows, write your answers on a postcard and send them directly to club owner Mike Charlesworth.
“Over the years we’ve obviously experienced our fair share of ups and downs,” said Charlesworth at the start of the season. “But right now I feel particularly optimistic about the club’s future.”
Unfortunately for Mariners fans, right now the club looks addicted to losing as much as anything.
They actually played reasonably well yesterday, but a few key lapses in concentration cost them dearly.
The first was when Pain snatched at his chance to seal the game when he had time to take a couple more touches and sidestep both Moss and the back-tracking Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
The second came just a few minutes later when Jason Hoffman’s fairly tame-looking header seemed to slip straight through the grasp of Mariners goalkeeper Adam Pearce.
The header probably came at an awkward height, but all Pearce seemed to do was get in defender Andrew Hoole’s way on the line and push the ball into his own net.
The third and decisive lapse saw Jets substitute Kaine Sheppard chip a long ball over the top for Newcastle’s marquee man Ronny Vargas to control and lash home.
The Venezuelan is simply too good a player to miss. Maybe that’s the difference.
So where to now, then, for the Mariners?
The fixture list doesn’t get any easier. They host current league leaders Perth Glory in their traditional New Year’s Eve fixture in Gosford.
Maybe Mulvey should throw caution to the wind and give his NPL signings Jordan Murray and Josh MacDonald more of a run than they’ve been getting.
Or maybe he just needs a bit of luck to fall the way of players like Matt Millar and Matt Simon, who try their hearts out every week without much success.
And much as the Mariners benefited financially from the huge contingent of Newcastle Jets fans yesterday, they could probably do with a few more of their own supporters in the stands.
But one thing is certain. They need a win.
After the worst start in A-League history, they simply cannot afford to start the new year the same way they’ve finished this one.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
An excellent post
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Charlesworth is either happy because A-league license's are in demand or maybe something else is going on. Some of the stuff Golec has done this season has been puzzling. Facts are most of you predicted that Mariners would go well because they brought in the blob McCormack, when I predicted they would be wooden spoon. You can perform well in the A-league just by being reasonably solid and hard working. If you look at Wellington their success has happened once Mitch Nichols is off the scene and with David Williams on the bench. They could do it without Burns as well so its a cheap outfit. Mariners dont have any proper fullbacks, Clisby I dont think can defend there. Then they have all the lazy players, Simon and Melling could make them the enforcers, with Cisse and Rowles being solid. if they had more hard working players and proper fullbacks. Instead its a hodge podge .
Jock the sock
Guest
They could not go any worst. Is he still partying in oz or has he served his soccer magic elsewhere.
Hans von Chrismar
Guest
It's lack of composure. Try to avoid rushes of blood to the brain. Just play the best game you can, enjoying it and the points will look after themselves.
con tripodis
Guest
WOW have you seen the post from the FFA it wishes us happy holidays ,not MERRY XMAS and happy holidays ,just happy holiday ,this are the people that govern our game we are in for a rough ride with the FFA they just cant get anything right new board old board ,i am bored ,,.. unbelievable they cant get the right message out to the people, what are the chances they have made the right decision on expansion lol
con tripodis
Guest
OH well you all are for putting in regional teams, manufactured from nowhere and thing that they will stand the test of time , but they never do and than they drag the whole competition down with them Teams have to evolve grow into teams not just made up by millionaires and advertising consultants ,as in here is your emblem ,here is your colours ,your flag and so on, BORING ,if the mariners were in the NSL without advertising and fox sports, they would be 1000 fans at their ground that is all , and yet u have a team like south melb who averaged 8 to 10 thousand a season and up to 40,000 for a grand final but are not allowed in the A league .
TM
Guest
Is there any updates on tommy oar and ross McCormack?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Same thing happened at the Glory. Tony Sage was part of a consortium that bought it off Nick Tana who used to own Chicken Treat and Red Rooster. The other members pulled out which is why Sage is having trouble.
Waz
Roar Rookie
The owner inherited the club by accident when others in the consortium pulled out; so while I think he is the problem he should be respected for keeping the club going when others might have walked.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Further to the game yesterday Kayne Sheppard only played 25 minutes, but he is a bit of a prospect. His awareness of Vargas in space for the goal ....and then the left foot delivery of the pass into the attacking area was spot on ... often this is wear teams come unstuck . Sheppard also seems to have a soft first touch and can hold the ball up and has the viduka type bulk to keep defenders at bay and lay off passes to others. I not sure, but I think he came from the lower leagues in England before playing in Victoria.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Joy and peace to you Mike, and to all the commenters and the other writers and editors here on the Football Tab at Roar Sports Opinion. This is a great outlet at times, and a good place to come and be informed on football. I hope the Mariners pick up, their dedicated fans like Midfielder deserve a decent team once in a while. Good luck to all teams for 2019.
Tezza
Guest
Spot on Kangas and even on a dead ball situation you still expect him to hit the target. He is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
See my earlier response , where I forgot about the academy .
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Transfer fees would change everything. For the better.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
If the owner is investing (his own?) money into the COE and the academy does that not show he cares? The academy is hard!y a tangible assets you can sell.
pakistanstar
Roar Rookie
Under-rated comment
Kangas
Roar Rookie
The highlight of the weekend for me was Sarpreet Singh So enjoyable to see a young player, play without fear and run at defenders.
buddy
Guest
Waz, That kind of suggests there is a lot of money going to waste out there!
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Jock the sock You’re an ideas man. Have a great Christmas
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Family comes first mate