The Jets have won today’s F3 derby 1-nil at Ausgrid Stadium.
The Newcastle Jets put in another gutsy home performance as they held on for a 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners at Ausgrid Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After a slow start to the match, the Central Coast defence looked shaky and provided the Jets with a great chance to open the scoring on 18 minutes when Labinot Haliti picked up a wayward pass to work his way through on goal but had his shot blocked.
Central Coast had their first real opportunity shortly after with a free kick from 30 yards but Ben Kennedy was equal to Oliver Bozanic-s effort on 22 minutes.
Jeremy Brockie then made the most of some clumsy Mariners defending when he intercepted yet another wayward pass just 25 yards out to force his way inside the penalty area and slot the ball past Matthew Ryan for the opening goal midway through the first half.
Daniel McBreen provided a scare for the Jets defence when he turned to strike the ball after it took an awkward bounce off Tarek Elrich, but his shot went just wide of the back post.
The Jets pressed forward and finished the half on top as they created several opportunities to extend their lead; but were unable to double their advantage before the half time break.
Haliti continued to work himself into nice positions behind the defence and he forced a save from Ryan on 37 minutes after linking up well with Ben Kantarovski on the edge of the area.
Kantarovski almost turned provider again just seconds later when he found Brockie inside the area, Brockie almost getting his second goal of the match with a delightful turn and shot but Ryan was again on hand to make the save.
The Jets final chance of the half came from a set piece, when Byun-s 30 yard effort looked to find the bottom corner but Ryan made a diving save to deny his attempt.
After being so dominant during the first half, Newcastle were expected to come out on top after the break, but it was the Mariners who were to do the majority of the attacking after the restart.
Lacking the critical touch in front of goal, they failed to take advantage of some early opportunities that would have seen them get back into the contest and set the F3 derby alight.
Matthew Simon squandered his effort shooting over the bar on 54 minutes after working himself into a one on one position, arguably their best chance to find the all important equalising goal.
Michael McGlinchey tried to penetrate from midfield in the Coast-s desperate attempt to find a goal, hitting a shot on edge of the area to produce a good save from Kennedy, and then shot just wide on 59 minutes.
Central Coast Mariners were awarded a free kick just 19 yards out when Matthew Simon was brought down on the edge of the area; Rostyn Griffiths hit final shot after Simon-s lay off but the Jets defence scrambled well to block the attempt as their defence continued to hold out.
Substitute Bernie Ibini hit a powerful shot just inside the area on 76 minutes, but with his shot hit directly towards Kennedy, he was able to parry his shot away.
The Jets continued to sit deep and had to defend deep within their own half for the remainder of the second half, with Central Coast continually looking to break them down the Jets looked to attack on the counter through Haliti and Ali Abbas.
Ryan Griffiths looked to outwit Ryan with a free kick on 88 minutes, searching for the near post from a difficult position, but was unable to get the goal that would have sent the 14, 421 home crowd into ecstatics late on.
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.
With a virus ruling Jobe Wheelhouse out of 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.”
The Jets will now look to transition their solid home form to Skilled Park when they take on Gold Coast United next Sunday under new coach Gary van Egmond.
Match Details
Newcastle Jets FC 1 (J.Brockie 25-)
Central Coast Mariners FC 0
Sunday 23rd October 5pm
Ausgrid Stadium
Crowd Attendance: 14, 421
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Newcastle Jets line up: 1. Ben KENNEDY (GK), 4. NickolaiTOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Tiago (2. Taylor REGAN 57-)CALVANO, 6. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 7. Kasey WHERMAN(c), 8. Jeremy BROCKIE (18. Marko JESIC), 10. Ruben ZADKOVICH (22. Ali ABBAS), 11.Tarek ELRICH, 13.Sung-Hwan BYUN, 14 Labinot HALITI, 23. Ryan GRIFFITHS.
Substitutes not used: 19. Matthew NASH.
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Mathew RYAN (GK), 2. Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER (23. Adam KWASNIK 81-), 6. Patrick ZWAANSWJIK (c), 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Adriano PELLEGRINO (9. Bernie IBINI 54-), 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY (12. Troy HEARFIELD 75-), 19. Matthew SIMON.
Substitutes not used: 20. Justin PASFIELD.
