FOOTBALL
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Saturday’s Football NSW State League One match in Mudgee had the hallmarks of Australia’s World Cup clash against Chile only hours earlier.
Like their fellow countrymen the Western Mariners were not able to peg back two early goals against Gladesville Ryde Magic. The difference being Western Mariners went down 2-1.
There was despair on the faces of some Mariners players after the match as they had stretched the fifth placed Magic but still couldn’t come away with the spoils.
Within the opening minutes Gladesville scored off an impressive Tim Cahill-like header after a great corner cross.
It was not long before the Mariners defence found themselves stretched on a Gladesville counter. Battling for the ball as it reached the box, Mariners defender John Rimmer was penalised for allegedly pushing his opponent over and a spot kick was awarded by referee Craig Mitchell.
The spot kick was originally saved by the Mariners goalkeeper but Gladesville were too quick to charge in and make the most of a deflection to post their second goal.
This didn’t stop the Mariners’ determination though and in the final minute before half time captain Adam Scimone slotted a sliding shot from the near post to make for an entertaining second half.
Rain began to fall during the break and both sides came out to a slippery surface.
Each team became frustrated in the second stanza because they could not land the killer blow and it resulted in the game becoming more physical and verbal off the ball. At one point Mitchell gave the Gladesville coach his marching orders.
Mariners coach Andrew Fearnley said he was proud of his team to stay committed to the end.
“It wasn’t a good start. With the corner their guys attacked it and we didn’t pick it up, I can wear that. The penalty was contentious and soon you are 2-0 down,” he said.
“However I thought our boys worked really hard to get back it into it. The goal was timely and I thought we had a pretty good second half but just couldn’t get a goal. It was touch and go.
“We probably didn’t have enough clear cut chances but I thought we played well enough to peg it back and have a go at them. It was tough, it was slippery, maybe we over hit our passes to create a decent chance.”