The Newcastle Jets won the bragging rights in the F3 Derby, winning 1-0 over the the Central Coast Mariners in a hard fought game, on a summery Sunday afternoon at Ausgrid Stadium in Newcastle in front of 14,412 fans.
In a match that never rose to great heights there was commitment but not a lot of finesse as both teams battled fairly directly to get some chances on goal. And chances there were, especially in the second-half for the visitors , but they were easily dealt with by both 'keeper.
It was only a lone goal by Jeremy Brockie mid first half that seperated them derby rivals.
The Mariners had been coughing up possession in the final third but Jeremy Brockie Mariners lurking high, cut out a pass by makeshift central defender Brad Porter to get away into the penalty area and he slotted the ball over Matthew Ryan left shoulder as he raced out and spread himself to cover. 1-0
The Mariners best chance was by substitute Bernie Ibini who made space just outside the penalty area and hit a powerful shot on 76 mins but with his shot hit directly at Ben Kennedy, the custodian was able to parry his shot away.
Acting Newcastle Jets Coach Craig Deans was happy to get the points and is looking to continue his work alongside Gary van Egmond. “My job was to get us off to a good start, six points in three games is a decent start; if we were offered that for a coach to come in we would take it," Deans said following the match.
Stand-in Captain Kasey Wehrman said it was his side's work rate that again got them over the line. "We pressured them into their mistakes," he said. "The team would like to thank the fantastic crowd that turned out to support us again, it makes such a difference for the boys."
"I think we beat ourselves today," Mariner coach Graham Arnold said after the match. "Maybe it was down to the heat but the first half both sides were a bit flat and a couple of our mistakes ended up costing us. "But I was very happy with our performance in the second half, we create enough chances in the second half to win it, it was a very open game on the second half." "Matt (Ryan) had to make a couple of saves, but at the same time we had enough chances to at least get an equaliser", Arnold admitted.