Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Castelen 69’ & Macdonald 77’) Central Coast Mariners 3 (Dan Heffernan 52’, 53 & 56’)

The run down:

After a scoreless first half and a five goal second half, the Central Coast Mariners have defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 thanks to a hat trick in the space of five minutes to trialist Dan Heffernan.

IN the pre-season hit out against Western Sydney in Coffs Harbour, goals to Romeo Castelen and Josh Macdonald were no match for Heff’s hat trick.

Special mentions go to Jake McGing & Harry Ascroft who, at 21 and 20 years-of-age were a great defensive pairing through out the match. Goalkeeper Liam Reddy also made a number of impressive saves and all of our trialists on show tonight will give Tony Walmsley a few selection headaches.

GOALS:

52’ DAN HEFFERNAN GOAL (1): After some impressive build up play from the flying winger Mitch Austin, the ball made its way to Jake Adelson just outside the 18 yard box. This provided the opportunity for two of the trialists to link up, Adelson delivered the cross and Heffernan finished with ease from close range.

53’ DAN HEFFERNAN GOAL (2): Heffernan was ‘Johnny on the spot’ for goal number two, who linked up with another trialist in Adam Berry. Berry sent a dangerous cross into the 18-yard box where Heffernan was able to head home from close range.

56’ DAN HEFFERNAN GOAL (3): Francesco Stella broke down the left hand side from the middle of the park to give himself enough time to steady and cross. Stella’s ball found Heffernan like a magnet who pounced on the opportunity to bang home his third goal of the night.

69’ CASTELEN GOAL: Golgol Mebrahtu sent in a long cross from the left wing that evaded the Mariners’ backline, Romeo Castelen found himself in the right place at the right time to get the opener for the Wanderers.

77’ MACDONALD GOAL: Josh Macdonald closed down the Western Sydney deficit to just one after his individual strike that seemed to take a deflection and fly into Liam Reddy’s net.

Key Moments:

14’ REDDY SAVE – Mitch Nichols was brought down just outside the penalty area that set up an inviting set piece for the Western Sydney Wanderers. It was Mebrahtu who stood up to the challenge and curled his effort with his precision towards the top corner. Reddy however, was up to the challenge and made an impressive diving save.

20’ AUSTIN BREAKS – New Central Coast Mariners recruit, Mitch Austin showed his sheer pace down the left wing in making a penetrating run into the Wanderers back third. Austin delivered a dangerous ball to follow but unfortunately Heffernan failed to get a touch. This would not be Heffernan’s last chance.

34’ RELIABLE MCGING – One of the stand out performers in the first half was 21-year old Jake McGing who looked a cut above in the left centre back position. In the 34th minute of play he dispossessed a charging Nichols with ease.

35’ STELLA CROSS – Stella made another impressive run from the middle of the park to whip in a curling cross. Wanderers’ keeper, Andrew Redmayne was called into action and shut down the attacking threat.

39’ SOTIRIO STRIKE – Wanderers’ Jaushua Sotirio looked to trouble the scorers with a volley from just outside the 18-yard box that glanced just over the crossbar.

52’ – 56’ HEFFERNAN HAT TRICK – An impressive hat trick in the space of five minutes kicked the game into overdrive and saw the Mariners take off to a 3-0 lead.

69’ ONWARDS – Western Sydney fought hard to bring the scoreline back to 3-2 with two consolation goals in the last twenty minutes of play but it was too little too late with Reddy looking strong as ever with the gloves.

Walmsley’s words:

“At this time of the pre-season you are looking at performances more than anything else but when you get a result anytime against Western Sydney Wanderers it’s going to be good for the mood in the camp and we’ve got a big FFA Cup game next week.”

“What that game has done for us, is prepared us physically and also given me few headaches as to what selections I’m going to make next Tuesday.”

“You can’t ask anymore of a trialist (Dan Heffernan), we’ve watched him a couple of times before and I knew if we delivered the ball into the right areas he was going to score goals and he’s done that tonight, we won’t make a snap judgement on whether we sign him or not but he’s done himself a lot of favours.”

“You saw some cameos from Mitch Austin today and if he gets into open space he is going to be a handful because he’s incredibly powerful.”

“We’d love to come back to Coffs Harbour. I’ve been here many times in the past but to come here for an event like this is absolutely sensational and we can’t thank the hosts enough.”

Western Sydney Wanderers 2

Central Coast Mariners 3

C. ex Coffs International Stadium

Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Central Coast Mariners

3.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN (3.Lachlan WALES (trialist), 71’), 9.Francesco STELLA (trialist) (8.Daniel McFARLANE (trialist) 72’), 12.Liam REDDY (GK), 15.Matt SIM, 16.Liam ROSE (7.Trent BUHARGIAR (trialist) 76’), 18.Glen TRIFIRO (23.Adam BERRY (trialist) 2’), 19.Dan HEFFERNAN (trialist), 20.Jake ADELSON (trialist), 22.Jake McGING (2.Storm ROUX 45’)

Substitutes not used: 1.Paul IZZO,10. Anthony CACERES, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 21.Mickey NEILL,

Western Sydney Wanderers

First Half Line-up: Andrew Redmayne (GK), Scott Jamieson, Brendan Hamill, Daniel Alessi, Scott Neville, Andreu, Jacob Pepper, Mitch Nichols, Jaushua Sotirio, Golgol Mebrahtu, Mark Bridge (C)

Second Half Line-up: Dean Bouzanis (GK), Alusine Fofanah, Cohan Morris, Lachlan Campbell, Jacob Pepper, Liam Youlley, Kearyn Baccus (C), Mario Shabow, Jaushua Sotirio (Romeo Castelen), Josh Macdonald, Jonathan Grozdanovski

Substitutes not used: 22. Jonathan Aspro