Severely underdone new NZ Hyundai A-League franchise Wellington Phoenix went down 2-0 to a confident looking Central Coast Mariners at Gosford tonight in front of a healthy crowd of 8,136, to move the hosts to top of the Pre Season Cup Group B after other results went their way tonight.
The Phoenix were given no time to get things in order before Mariners captain Alex Wilkinson headed home after sustained pressure from the kick-off had kept the Wellington side in their own half. After making 60 appearances without scoring, Wilkinson was particularly happy to have finally put the ball in the back of the net. "It is about time ... no, it's always good to score a goal, but for the team it was a good win and a good hit-out for us," said the goal scorer.
The early goal stung the visitors, who were without several key first choice players, and in the 7th minute striker Royce Brownlie tested Mariners 'keeper Danny Vukovic who came out early to cover. Several more times during the half he was called on to smother chances created by the quick movement forward by the young Phoenix players. The Mariners defence had a makeshift look with two midfielders, Hutchinson and Osman called upon to play fullbacks.
In the 32nd minute though the hosts put the boot into Wellington when from a superb pin-point cross by Wilkinson, after great buildup down the right, the maligned Adam Kwasnik steered his shot past the impressive Glen Moss.
Again Vukovic had to come out, this time to tackle Michael Ferrante, and at the other end Steven Old saved Wellington when he intercepted the ball at the feet of Saso Petrovski.
The Mariners re-applied pressure after the break, with Gumprecht pushing forward and it took a push from Steven O'Dor to stop Nik Mrdja in the 54th minute. O'Dor had been cared before so referee Srebre Delovski pulled red from his pocket to rub salt into the wounds of the Kiwis.
From the 54th minute freekick Mrdja powered it along the ground through the wall and it took a slight deflection, but Moss gathered well. Three minutes later Mrdja shot, Moss parried, Kwasnik shot but Moss again covered.
The Mariners continued to pressure, without dominating, even after Steven O'Dor was off for a second yellow.
Glen Moss meanwhile gave coach Ricki Herbert something to ponder when first choice Kiwi international 'keeper Mark paston returns.
McKinna re-shuffled his side with three substitutes but kept the 4-4-2 formation. In the 71st minute Tom Pondeljak sent over, from his new position on the right, a sublime 40m pass to Mrdja on the left but the big striker again had Moss quickly in his way.
Generally a solid hit-out for both sides, and both coaches were pleased with the way their teams were progressing. Herbert obvioulsy reflected that they had a long way to go but he saw them doing well this season once they work their way into it. "I think we're going to have a really good year and we've got a decent platform to build on, but we're not going to pretend we're like the other seven franchises", Herbert stated. "There's a lot of work to do in the next five-six weeks to bring them together. We haven't had the luxury of two years of combinations."
Mariners coach, Lawrie McKinna, indicated that we would be able to bring in returning left back Dean Heffernan for part of the next game in Orange next Saturday.