Argentine winger Pato Rodgriguez stole the spotlight on a dramatic night in Newcastle, as the import struck late to secure all three points for the Jets.
It was an F3 Derby which was action packed, with heavy rain, high winds, and lightning off the pitch, and end-to-end action on it.
The Mariners began brightly early in the first half, and midfielder Tom Hiariej should have put them in the lead in the 12th minute, when Connor Pain curled a cross to the unmarked Dutchman at the back post. But, Hiariej couldn’t keep his shot down.
Four minutes later Andrew Nabbout went close for the Jets, as he weaved his way from the right edge, however his curling strike was well saved by Mariners keeper, Ben Kennedy.
Central Coast flyer, Kwabena Appiah caused plenty of headaches for the Jets down the right flank – but didn’t quite have the composure – as he sprayed a couple of shots wide.
Energetic winger, Joe Champness was involved in Newcastle’s best moment before the break, dinking a metre-perfect pass over the Mariners defence to Jason Hoffman, who just couldn’t quite curl his shot from the left side of the box inside the far post.
The strong wind, rain and lightning arrived just as half-time approached wreaking havoc with those on the pitch, and it wasn’t the visitors only problem as they lost both Wout Brama and Connor Pain to injury before the break.
The conditions weren’t much better at the beginning of the second 45, as the Jets ran into a howling southerly.
Blake Powell went within a whisker of opening the scoring in the 47th minute, and he would of, if not for Glen Moss’ lightning-quick reflexes.
The home fans were on their feet in the 55th minute as Pato Rodgriguez made his first appearance for the Jets and he was soon into the action dancing past defenders down the left edge.
The match took another twist in the 72nd minute as Central Coast defender Josh Rose was given his marching orders after he received his second yellow for a foul on Champness.
With the Mariners down to ten men and out on their feet, the Jets began to create much of the opportunities.
In the 82nd minute the dam wall burst as Steven Ugarkovic charged down the right flank, cut back a ball to the penalty to spot and Dimi Petratos coolly slotted his second F3 Derby goal.
However, in front of a strong crowd of 13,127, the Jets weren’t satisfied with one, and in his first game at the club Pato Rodriguez stole the ball from the Mariners defence and raced 30 metres to slot the second and put the icing on the cake.
The goal sealing the Jets first win at home in an F3 Derby since 2012.
The moments:
7’ | 0 – 0 | A dangerous run from Joey Champness into the area, but with plenty of defensive pressure he drives a strike straight into a Mariners defender #NEWvCCM
9’ | 0 – 0 | Georgievski weaves through the Mariners defence and squares a ball to Petratos at the top of the 18-yard, he swivels and strikes but Kennedy collects his shot #NEWvCCM
16’ | 0 – 0 | CHANCE! Nabout finds some space in the area, steadies and strikes but Kennedy is up to the task #NEWvCCM
41’ | 0 – 0 | CHANCE! A Champness chip over the top releases a charging Jason Hoffman, but his shot runs across the face of goal #NEWvCCM
47’ | 0 – 0 | MOSS! Huuuge save from point blank range to deny Blake Powell #NEWvCCM
66’ | 0 – 0 | PATO! Oh so close from our newest recruit, he tips it behind the Mariners defence and races Kennedy to the loose ball. The Mariners custodian JUST beats him to it #NEWvCCM
82’ | 1 – 0 | GOAL! Petratos! #NEWvCCM
82’ | 1 – 0 | Ugarkovic cuts a ball back into the area, passing Champness it falls to Petratos who drives a strong strike into the bottom left, giving us the lead! #NEWvCCM
86’ | 1 – 0 | A massive thank you to the 13,127 fans who braved the weather for tonight’s #F3Derby! #NEWvCCM
90′ | 2-0 | GOALLLL! Rodriguez! #NEWvCCM
90′ | 2-0 | The Mariners turn over the ball at the back and the classy Argentine races 30 metres and finishes superbly!! #NEWvCCM
Newcastle Jets: 3. Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 10.Wayne BROWN, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 20.Glenn MOSS (gk), 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 11.Pato RODRIGUEZ, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS
Subs Not Used: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Devante CLUT
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: Petratos (82’), Rodriguez (90+2’)
Central Coast Mariners: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jake McGING, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Blake POWELL, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Kwabena APPIAH, 15.Alan BARO (c), 23.Wout BRAMA,
Subs: 2.Storm ROUX, 22.Jacob MELLING, 24.Lachlan WALES
Subs Not Used: 9.ASDRUBAL, 20.Adam PEARCE (gk),
Yellow Cards: Rose (63’), Melling 68’, Hoole (90+1’)
Red Cards: Rose (72’)
Goals:
