Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Perth Glory: No Glory in Gosford

A tightly fought contest that left little to separate two teams in a match that could have been.

Nov 27, 2009 11:20:39 AM

Tando Velaphi, Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory (Getty Images)

Adam Kwasnik’s disallowed goal was the closest either side came to scoring as Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory shared a scoreless 0-0 draw at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Friday evening.

Poor finishing was the tale of the match with both keepers having a quiet time in goals, the result leaving Perth in 5th on 22 points and Central Coast third on 24, denying them an opportunity to claim top spot.

With the Mariners winning most of the previous match ups between the two sides, it was the home team that dominated the opening exchanges.

And with a sandy pitch that saw players struggling to judge the run of the ball, it took 20 minutes for the game’s first real chance which fell to Victor Sikora.

Sikora worked the ball well in midfield, to set up Mile Sterjovski in space up the left, who then curled a ball in away from keeper back to Sikora who had continued his run, for the first time volley that sailed just over bar.

The midfield battle intensified as the game progressed, and the channels began to open up for both sides, leading to the Mariners first real chance.

And it came from a quickly taken free kick that saw a ball floated over the wall, to find Adam Kwasnik who volleyed into the back of the net only to be ruled offside.

It came as relief for the visiting Glory, who did not deserve to be a goal down.

Discipline was an issue for Perth and Socceroos midfielder Jacob Burns half an hour in, after collecting a yellow card, his 7th for the season, bringing down Michael McGlinchey with the Mariners on the counter attack.

The closing stages of the half saw a succession of chances for the Glory, as they closed it out the stronger of the two teams.

With the pick of the bunch a Mile Sterjovski thunder volley from 25 yards out, that hit the post, much to the delight of the unaware Danny Vukovic between the Mariners sticks.

Into the second half Nik Mrdja had a chance to open the scoring when John Hutchinson floated a ball into the box, with Danny Vukovic coming off his line to allow Mrdja the chip his head, which lacked the strength to reach the line.

Up the other end Adrian Pellegrino’s header was saved off the line by Danny Vukovic after a pin point cross from Mile Sterjovski , who found Pellegrino drifting away from goal to head the ball back in.

Lawrie McKinna was the first of the two managers to throw the dice, introducing occasional Socceroo Matt Simon to replace Nick Mrdja for the Mariners.

Poor decision making in the final third prevented Central Coast from finding that elusive opener, with time and time again, the final ball not making its intended target, surely frustrating coach Lawrie McKinna.

Danny Vukovic kept the score nil all when he saved a Viktor Sikora speculator 25 minutes from time. Branko Jelic played Sikora on the burst down the right, with his far post shot hitting only the outstretched leg of Vukovic.

With poor finishing from both sides, Vukovic and Velaphi were rarely tested for the Mariners and Glory respectively.

David Mitchell went for the jugular 5 minutes from time throwing on Scott Neville for a tired Mile Sterjovski.

But it was McKinna’s men who almost stole the spoils in injury time through Ahmad Elrich, who shot wide of the post after some neat work in midfield.

Despite a scoreless match, a goal was scored for the A-League with a healthy 7,857 in crowd attendance, a number which will surely grow as World Cup Finals near.

Paul Milazzo, Goal.Com

Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!

Thank you for your comment!

Please enter your name

Please enter your location

Please share your comment!