ALW: Claudia Jenkins stars for Adelaide United while import striker Jade Pennock saves Mariners’ season
28 hours after they were meant to play, the Central Coast Mariners have produced a major comeback over Canberra United, with English import Jade Pennock finding form at the perfect moment.
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A brace from English import Jade Pennock has saved Central Coast Mariners’ A-Leagues’ Women’s finals campaign with a huge come from behind 2-1 win over Canberra United.
There had been plenty of drama before a ball was even kicked with heavy rain in Gosford forcing the match to be delayed by 28 hours as the pitch looked like a swimming pool.
Mariners were 1-0 at the halftime break but a goal off Jade Pennock’s boot inside the first minute of the second half spurred the home side on.
Pennock then executed a sublime goal in the 74th minute which would ultimately prove enough to send Mariners’ through to their second consecutive semi-final.
The English striker hasn’t had a great run in front of goal this season - from her 71 shots just five found the net.
But she certainly picked the perfect moment to find her form.
“I was disappointed in the last game, I had a few chances that I think I should have scored and didn’t put away so I’ve worked hard all week in training,” Pennock told Paramount post match.
“We dominated the majority of the first half so we were disappointed to go in behind and we really wanted to come out fighting and we did.”
Central Coast only re-entered the ALW last season. They were knocked out in the semi-finals and if they want to go one step further will have to find a way past the so far unbeatable Melbourne City over the next two weekends.
If they can play with the determination they did against Canberra they certainly stand a chance.
But they could have to face the match without experienced left back Taylor Ray, who went down with a knee injury late in the game.
Mariners had to work incredibly hard to break down United’s disciplined defence.
With both teams focusing on defence it created a bit of a standoff in the midfield - 25 minutes in and Mariners had taken three shots to Canberra’s zero.
Heyman came close a few times but Mariners’ keeper Sarah Langman proved hard to get past.
With the halftime break approaching Canberra hit the attack button. Heyman, ball at her feet, took on Mariners’ Taren King near the box and managed to bustle past her to whip the ball past Langman and into the net in the 43rd minute.
The goal put Heyman in the record books again - as the oldest player to score in an ALW final.
Canberra didn’t let up, firing shot after shot at Langman right up until the halftime whistle blew.
By the break Canberra’s shot total had risen to six with all on target. Mariners had taken seven with just three on the mark.
Mariners came out firing in the second half a beautiful cross from teenage sensation Tiana Fuller pinballing onto Pennock’s boot who levelled the scores up in the 46th minute.
Canberra weren’t flustered by the goal - they continued to stick to their defensive set-up - hoping to strike on the counter.
The block really put a stopper on the Mariners’ momentum and they were visibly frustrated.
Then Pennock saw an opportunity and she didn’t miss it - sending the ball rocketing into the corner of the net and putting Mariners’ up 2-1 with just less than 20 minutes to play.
WOW! ONE OF THE FINEST NINJA A-LEAGUE GOALS YOU'LL SEE 🤯🔥
— Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) April 28, 2025
Jade Pennock whips in an absolute stunner to complete her double in the Elimination Final. Pure class ðŸ‘
📺 Watch #CCMvCBR live NOW on Paramount+ or 10 Play. pic.twitter.com/VgIItQ0tyI
Canberra tried to increase their attack - altering their set up and sending more players into attack. As players got desperate tackles got sloppy and physical. Lengthy stoppages for injuries saw an extra six minutes added to the match but Mariners managed to hold on to the lead.
Mariners will have to face the undefeated Melbourne City next weekend but captain King isn’t concerned.
“It’s one thing to win the league, it’s a different thing to win finals, it’s a completely different beast and we’re up for it,” she said.
Semi-finals action will kick off next weekend with Adelaide playing Melbourne Victory and Mariners facing Melbourne City.
Match details:
- Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City, 2.15pm AEST on Saturday 3 May at Industree Group Stadium, and live on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+.
- Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory, 4.00pm AEST on Sunday 4 May at Coopers Stadium, and live on 10 Play and Paramount+.
‘I’m in shock’: Reds keeper shines in historic ALW win
A career defining match from Adelaide United’s keeper Claudia Jenkins has guided them to their first finals win in the history of the A-League’s Women’s.
After finishing last season as wooden spooners few would have predicted Adelaide United going all the way to the finals this season and then defeating Western United 1-0 in the elimination final.
It is the second time in as many seasons that Western United have failed to get past the first stage of the finals series.
Going into the season Jenkins had played just four ALW matches.
This season has proven a breakout for her – keeping seven clean sheets from her 22 games.
Jenkins, recently named in the New Zealand Women’s national team, was put under pressure plenty of times. Western United had 21 shots by the end of the match to Adelaide’s six.
But Jenkins, 26, denied every one of them – much to the frustration of Chloe Berryhill (Logarzo).
The keeper said it was “unreal” that they were going through to the final.
“I’m in shock,” Jenkins told Paramount post match.
“In the second half they came out, we expected them to, it’s an elimination final, we did well to withstand that.”
Jenkins said it certainly wasn’t an easy victory.
“We dug deep, we fought to the end and we got the result,” she said.
A determined Adelaide United struck early, finding the net off Matilda McNamara’s head, following a corner in the 23rd minute, and several very close chances.
Adelaide have only once before played in an ALW final series back in 2021/22 but didn’t get to celebrate a win.
To progress to the grand final they will have to get through a two-legged semi final against league runners up Melbourne Victory.
Adelaide’s persistence and ability to stave off a relentless Western United will give them a huge confidence boost going into the game.
It was an intense first half with Adelaide United on the front foot from the start. They got their first shot at the goal inside the opening two minutes.
An early injury to Western United’s defender Claudia Mihocic forced the Melbourne outfit to restructure just 10 minutes into the match.
Just five minutes later Adelaide’s Dylan Holmes was smacked in the face with the ball while defending a free kick – it took a bit of gauze and some serious tape to stem the bleeding but she was able to play on.
It was a messy midfield but Adelaide, spurred by a 3100 strong crowd, proved more dominant in attack in the opening part of the game.
McNamara got the first point on the board, timing her jump perfectly to get her head on the corner kick from Emily Condon in the 23rd minute.
Lucia Leon came very close to doubling the score just 10 minutes later – her shot ricocheted off the crossbar with so much force that Holmes couldn’t get her foot behind it quick enough to knock it into the open goal.
United weren’t without their chances with Berryhill leading the front line.
But it seemed like Jenkins could read Berryhill’s mind – spoiling every chance she managed to create.
Western upped the ante on their attacking efforts as the break neared but Adelaide were able to withstand the pressure.
The Melbourne side came out firing in the second half – firing in shot after shot but Jenkins had little trouble keeping them out of the net.
As the clock wound down Western United threw everything they had into attack. Tensions flared, fatigue set in, the pickle juice was needed and it got scrappy.
But Adelaide managed to hold on and claim the match.
MATCH POSTPONED
Torrential rain across the Central Coast has forced the A-League’s to cancel the women’s elimination final between Mariners and Canberra United.
The decision was made a little over an hour out from when the match was due to kick off.
More than 100mm of rain fell overnight and up to 50mm is expected this afternoon. “Following extensive rain in Gosford in the last 24 hours, and up to 50mm of rain still to fall today, the waterlogged pitch has been deemed unplayable,” a statement from the APL said.
Photos shared to social media show the pitch looking more like a swimming pool than a football field.
The match has been rescheduled to 6pm Monday night.
It is a shame for all involved, especially Canberra fans who had bussed it up to Gosford from the nation’s capital.
A pitch inspection will be conducted again on Monday morning.
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