Have a read of The Hyundai A-League table this morning. The Central Coast Mariners have a share of top spot if not for goal difference.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be.

And this weekend the Mariners get the chance to make top spot all their own when they head to Suncorp Stadium to take on the Brisbane Roar, who has stumbled, losing their last two matches.

Game of the season anyone?

In the brief history of the Hyundai A-League fine teams have come and gone. Brief displays of majestic football have soon been mired in mediocrity. Empires promised have barely laid their foundations before being overrun.

And then there is the Central Coast Mariners.

The team from Gosford have, for the most part, provided a level of consistent performance over the seven seasons of the Hyundai A-League yet the ultimate success has eluded them on grand final day. Three times the Mariners have been to the big dance only to be cruelly and dramatically denied.

Last season’s epic Grand Final encounter should have been enough to break the spirit of a club on the verge of finally achieving the ultimate. Yet they’ve dusted themselves down and set out again in search of that elusive title.

Unbeaten in seven games coming into the F3 Derby against their local rivals Newcastle Jets, Graham Arnold’s team had been methodically picking up points, compiling results and keeping Brisbane Roar in their sights at the top of the table.

Then came the 4-nil demolition of Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium a week back and the Mariners indicated they were ready to move into another gear altogether.

The 2-nil win over the Jets continued that rich vein of form, built on the foundations of a few in form veterans and a couple of young tyros who have fans all across the league talking.

The goals came from Rostyn Griffiths and Matt Simon on Saturday. Striker Simon is a great story - a local bloke who only got his shot with the Mariners back in 2006 as a replacement for an injured Nik Mrdja, he’s since played his 110th A-League game for the Mariners on Saturday, and scored his sixth F3 derby goal to help ground the Jets.

Simon finds himself in an attacking formation alongside two players who have set the league alight in recent weeks, Mustafa Amini and Bernie Ibini.

Amini was once again the architect of this Mariners win, the creative fulcrum in behind the front pairing of Ibini and Simon. Where others are struggling to carry the burden of potential and deliver results on the pitch, the kid who used to sport the kinky afro seems to be having no such trouble.

“( Amini) has come on in leaps and bounds. We've added pace to him and the small things we can work on. But he was fantastic, as was Bernie Ibini.

"The kids add enthusiasm - and it is a pleasure to coach them”, Mariners boss Graham Arnold told the press conference after the win against the Jets.

And the coach deserves some credit as well. Arnold has taken a few on the chin over the years. His time in charge of the national team after the Guus Hiddink era was troubled and the boo-boys made Arnie public enemy No.1.

Unperturbed, he went about re-building his credentials as a coach and went within a heartbeat of claiming the title for the Mariners last season.

This week he heads back to the scene of the heartbreak to take on the Roar again. Having won in Sydney and Adelaide in recent times, road trips hold no fear for Arnie’s men.

And defying expectations is a Mariners trademark. It’s one not to be missed.

 
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and do not reflect those of Football Federation Australia.
Poll
Who is Australia's best young prospect?






Comments (14)
 
Just arrived from UK. Thought I'd check out Ozzy Football. What a load of rubbish, see better games on a Sunday morning in UK. Too much side to side passing, the goal is at either end chaps. If this is the standard then I wont be going again. No hope for OZ in the world cup.
ray  |  
18 Dec 2011 09:33 AM
 
 
Maybe this time the best team will get the refs calls, and not a disgraceful corner kick decision which gifted the GF to the leagues then protected pets, Brisbane. ps: Nathan, you need to learn about football and not the bling factor mate, its a team game and the CC have had the best TEAM for years...
Duke  |  
14 Dec 2011 06:53 PM
 
 
We could have nicked a point last game at Suncorp and that's when the Roar were firing. Now we are the form team and they have a tough midweek away trip to NZ, it's going to make for a great game on Saturday night. Mariners have unsung quality across the park- Matt Ryan is arguably the best keeper in the league, Patrick Zwaansvijk the oldest, canniest defender and goal poacher to boot, Michael McGlinchey and Hutcho both absolute class on the ball, Matt Simon the harrassing goal scoring machine and then the two wonder kids Amini & Ibini. Graham Arnold has brought together all of his experience to turn a local team with minimal funding into serious, consistent, title contenders.
Berowra Bowz  |  
13 Dec 2011 10:13 PM
 
 
As a Heart supporter I admire CCM for what they achieve. They recognize their limitations, have no illusions of grandeur and work hard for each other - and that's why they get the best out of what they've got. They may not have hit the high spot yet, but what they have is a very sound platform from which to get there.
jonny  |  
13 Dec 2011 02:10 PM
 
 
Brisbane heading into Saturdays game following a mid-week game against the Phoenix in Dunedin will give the Mariners the upperhand. Fatigue is the question that lies within the Roar camp. Lets consider what the Roar will be facing before the Mariners game, it includes: travelling from Brisbane to Dunedin and back (jet lag), playing a full 90 minute game, a quick restructure of the teams plan (for both the Phoenix and Mariners game) within a short period of time. Roar fans can only hope that the team has done enough fitness and conditioning training to get them over the line this Saturday night. Despite many previous attempts, this game will surely be the one that will get them over the line and secure the 3 points.
AnonymousFootballTragic  |  
13 Dec 2011 12:26 PM
 
 
To JBOY - having now scored 36 goals over the last 3 and a half seasons, Matt Simon might not be much good with a Banjo and bovine anatomy, as you suggest, but he certainly knows how to score goals.
Michael H  |  
13 Dec 2011 12:13 PM
 
 
It's obvious neither JBOY or Ian have actually watched any Mariners games in recent months....
Hobnail  |  
13 Dec 2011 07:29 AM
 
 
@JBoy Living up to your tag there mate. As good a player as he is, Musti has only played 3 or 4 out 10 games this season. Oh, and btw, Mattys already hit 4 cows arses this season. Get of the gear and with the program.
Highseas  |  
13 Dec 2011 12:14 AM
 
 
The Roar - CCM should be a great game esp. with the Roar having to play mid-week. This game will definetley show how far the CCM have gone since the Grand Final.
Stepo  |  
12 Dec 2011 10:01 PM
 
 
Last year when Brisbane took on Adelaide in a top of the table clash (i know right, Adelaide used to be good), Roar won 4-0 and set the tone for the rest of the year, once again we have another top of the table match and as a Roar fan, i hope we have the same outcome :)
Lukee  |  
12 Dec 2011 09:25 PM
 
 
I'm not surprised simply because Brisbane aren't as good as last year. For me the two players that made the team what it was were Mitch Nicholls & Costa Barbarousis. They ensured that goals could come from anywhere on the pitch. One has gone and the other has missed a few games. Add to that the value of the poacher Solorzano who has also gone and the Roar are nowhere near as potent in front of goal this year. They've come back to the pack. CCM? They've had their good spell early but they usually have a bad one somewhere along the line. I still think Roar are the team to beat but they are no longer to be feared
Geoff  |  
12 Dec 2011 09:21 PM
 
 
JBOY have you even watched a mariners game? ever? sure the mariners play hard and work for the team, and always have, but the way they are playing at the moment is extraordinary. And clearly simon is doing better than what you can do seeing he has made 110 a-league appearances, and scored goals. Lets keep opinions to people who actually know the game
Nathan  |  
12 Dec 2011 08:48 PM
 
 
How the hell are the Mariners joint top? They've got one good player in Amini, the rest are just a bunch of workhorses. Matt Simon?!? Don't make me laugh! COuldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo. Once Musti goes it'll all fall apart.
Jboy  |  
12 Dec 2011 04:42 PM
 
 
Amazing to see the Roar stumble so dramatically after breaking the record two weeks ago. Now it seems like the flash Brissie boys vs the unfancied workmanlike Central Coast lads may indeed set the tone for the rest of the season... should be a cracker but I reckon it may just go to the Central Coast as revenge for that Grand Final...
Ian from Melbourne  |  
12 Dec 2011 02:45 PM
 

Francis Leach

A radio broadcaster of huge experience, Francis Leach is currently host of ABC Grandstand, a football fanatic and a left-sided midfielder.