Mariners v Knights

A-League report by Dom Brock
Central Coast Mariners v New Zealand Knights


The New Zealand Knights have registered their first A-League win with a 2-0 defeat of the in-form Mariners at Central Coast Stadium.

New Zealand striker Simon Yeo headed home the first in the 69th minute after chasing down a huge goal kick from Knights' goalkeeper Danny Milosevic that had bounced over the Mariners' defence.

Substitute Sean Devine then found space up the centre of the park and calmly sent the ball past Mariners shot-stopper John Crawley to wrap up the win.

The result gave the Knights their first competition points of the season, and was particularly impressive coming away to the previously undefeated Mariners.

There was plenty of action at both ends in the first half but neither side could find the back of the net, with Milosevic starring with several sharp saves.

New Zealand had the early chances, and Hay was unlucky not to open the scoring inside 10 minutes, hitting the post after receiving a cross from Steve Fitzsimmons.

The visitors continued to attack, with Yeo and midfielder Joshua Rose directing shots wide of the posts.

The Mariners' first real opportunity came when captain Noel Spencer struck a trademark long-range drive that was parried by Milosevic, who then made a great reflex save to stop Stewart Petrie's follow-up header.

Milosevic made another brilliant save in the 30th minute to again deny a Petrie header, after Michael Beauchamp lobbed a headed pass into the centre of the box.

The 'keeper then dived low to his left to keep out a solid shot from Andre Gumprecht, and the game remained scoreless at the break.

Central Coast continued to look dangerous in the second term, with Petrie firing a shot over the bar and Spencer forcing a save from another long-range attempt.

Yeo's goal then came from nowhere, with Milosevic sending a booming goal-kick down the ground that bounced perfectly for the speedy forward, who headed over Crawley and into the net.

Gumprecht, Petrie and Spencer all had late chances for the hosts but couldn't convert them, and Devine's strike 15 minutes before full-time silenced the Gosford crowd and ended the Mariners' hopes of victory.