A-League Women: Central Coast Mariners defeat Wellington for first home win in 14 years
There were milestones galore as the Central Coast Mariners’ ALW side continued its march up the ladder, with a fairytale goal capping off a very special achievement for the club.
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The Central Coast Mariners’ A-League Women’s side has continued its strong start to the season, defeating the Wellington Phoenix 1-0 at Central Coast Stadium to record the team’s first home win in 14 years.
Having competed in the first two seasons of what was then known as the W-League before disbanding for more than a decade, the Mariners’ women’s side returned to the ALW this season, with the win securing the club’s first three points in front of home fans since 2009.
They move to fifth on the ladder with seven points, but have played one game fewer than most of their nearest rivals.
With no ALM action over the weekend due to the international break, the focus is all on the women.
Catch up with a wrap of all the news and main talking points from the ALW below with Mariners Central.
RASMUSSEN’S FAIRYTALE GOAL
Central Coast local Annalise Rasmussen was the star for the Mariners in their first win at home, scoring the only goal after coming off the bench to secure the 1-0 victory.
The clinical cross from Chinese international Wurigumula set up an easy shot for Rasmussen, who struck the ball past Wellington keeper Rylee Foster in the 76th minute to take the lead in front of the home crowd.
The goal seemed like it had been coming for the teenager, who went incredibly close to scoring the winner in the dying moments of last week’s 1-1 draw with Brisbane with a brilliant header that was spectacular saved by Roar keeper Jordan Silkowitz.
It was the stuff of dreams for the 18-year-old, who has been with the Mariners Academy since she was 11 and was the Mariners’ inaugural signing for their return to the A-League Women’s competition this season.
It was equally symbolic for the club, with the Mariners recorded their first home win in top-flight women’s football since 2009, way back when Rasmussen was just four years old.
THE LETHAL RIGHT WING
The Mariners’ goal clearly perfectly demonstrated the threat the team posed down the right wing, with the team running riot down the flank all day.
The goal itself was the result of a wonderful exchange of play that saw Isabel Gomez win the ball deep in her own half, link with Peta Trimis, who then released Wurigumula down the right.
The Chinese international then squared the ball for Rasmussen, who smashed the ball home from eight metres to give the Mariners the lead.
The move was eerily similar to a break just eight minutes earlier, when Rasmussen released Wurigumula down the right, with the striker doing incredibly well to cut back in and defeat her defender, only to fire over with a left-foot shot.
MARINERS START TO CLICK
The young Mariners side has continued to show progress every week, and while their start has been positive for a new outfit in the competition, there are still improvements to be made as a team.
For example, the side’s passing accuracy is the lowest in the league at 62.1 per cent – almost 20 per cent down on Melbourne City at the top with 80.2 per cent.
And while metrics like this suggest the team has plenty of room for improvement, coach Emily Husband will be no doubt be pleased to be sitting in fifth-place on the ladder with seven points from four games, all the while having played one game fewer than most other sides in the league.
GALIC SHOWS HER CLASS
Another bright spot for the Mariners was midfielder Bianca Galic, who was outstanding for her side.
Playing on the right side of midfield, she was a key threat particularly in the first half, causing the Phoenix plenty of headaches with her passing and movement.
She created one of the best chances of the first half on 38 minutes, doing well to turn a Phoenix defender with her back to goal before unleashing a shot that was saved by Wellington keeper Rylee Foster.
She also went close a couple of minutes later, letting fly from 30m with a shot that just missed to the right of the goal.
NEWBON SHINES
Joining the team as an injury replacement on the day of the Mariners’ first match of the season, goalkeeper Courtney Newbon has been a surprising standout for the Coast.
The 23-year-old played a huge role in securing the clean sheet and three points against the Nix, denying Wellington’s Manaia Elliott in injury time to keep the Mariners ahead.
It was one of five saves Newbon made in the match, with the best coming on the stroke of halftime when she leapt high to bat away a powerful shot from Emily Main that was destined for the top corner.
The Mariners have conceded the second-fewest goals so far this season with three, with much of this thanks to Newbon’s form between the sticks.
Her time in the starting XI may be limited after the recent signing of A-League veteran keeper Casey Dumont, but Newbon has certainly put her best foot forward in her quest for a permanent contract.
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