Scott Neville assisted twice on Craig Goodwin goals as the Newcastle Jets defeated Central Coast Mariners 2-1 at Scully Park in Tamworth. The Mariners had only a barebones side in Australia’s country music capital as the majority of regular starters were still in Indonesia, competing for the Menpora Cup.
Newcastle Jets defeat Central Coast Mariners in pre-season finale
A pair of Craig Goodwin goals gave Newcastle a win against a weakened Mariners side in Tamworth.
Goodwin was an early and frequent threat on the Mariners’ goal, nearly scoring in the 10th minute before twice putting in Scott Neville crosses in the 19th and 23rd minutes. On the opener, Goodwin blasted in a half-volley after Neville crossed in from the right wing. The second goal was a diving header with Neville again providing the service for Goodwin. Five minutes later, Goodwin’s corner was headed on frame by Kew Jaliens but was deflected out for a corner.
Michael McGlinchey, one of the few Mariners regulars to come back from Indonesia, was Central Coast’s most dangerous player in the second half, nearly scoring himself before setting up trialist Brent Griffith’s goal in the 65th minute. The score held at 2-1 with Jets substitute Taylor Regan blocking two late Mariners shots.
Neither side plays another proper pre-season match with the Jets opening the season at the Allianz Stadium against Sydney FC on Friday October 11. The Mariners host Western Sydney Wanderers at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday October 12 in a rematch of the 2012/13 A-League Grand Final.
Scoring:
NUJ Goodwin (Neville) 19’
NUJ Goodwin (Neville) 23’
CCM Griffiths (McGlinchey) 65’
Staring Line-ups:
Central Coast Mariners: Reddy; Seip, Morton, O’Dell, Verity; Caceras, McGlinchey, Bingham; Griffiths, Kwasnik, Duke
Newcastle Jets: Birighitti; Gallaway, Chapman, Neville, Jaliens; Goodwin, Brillante, Zadkovich ,Virgili; Taggart, Bridges
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