Mariners coast to first Perth win in six years

Perth Glory 1 (Franjic, 32’) Central Coast Mariners 2 (De Silva, 17’; Silvera 45’)

The Mariners subdued Glory’s dangerous attacking trio to record their first win in Perth for six years.

First-half goals by Danny De Silva and Sam Silvera were enough to ensure the points went home with the New South Welshmen.

CCM showed they meant business early on when Milan Duric hit the post, with Liam Reddy beaten, but recovering well to save the rebound, after eight minutes.

However, Central Coast weren’t to be denied for long. In the 17^th minute left back Jack Clisby found space on the left and centred to former Glory favourite De Silva, who made no mistake with a placed shot to Reddy’s right.

The Mariners drowned out the triple threat of the Glory frontline making them look jaded and impotent for long periods.

The measure of Glory’s endeavours was shown in the 26^th minute when Scottish right back Ziggy Gordon was booked for persistent fouling earning the biggest cheer yet from the home support.

Glory’s normally assured Swiss central defender Greg Wuthrich picked up a booking as Silvera maximised the effect of his clumsy challenge on the half hour mark.

Glory coach Tony Popovic revealed after the match that Wuthrich had not recovered well from the away trip to Wellington and “he was one clumsy challenge away from getting another yellow, so we made a change.”

Jacob Tratt came on to fill Wuthrich’s right central defensive berth in the 38^th minute, a replacement Popovic would later rue.

Shortly after, Diego Castro was the beneficiary of a slack defensive pass. Castro prowled with menace into the box but Mariners stopper Dylan Fox tidied up the danger well.

A few minutes later, Castro again made mischief on the left, the ball falling to Ivan Franjic who equalised from an acute angle 6m out, nutmegging GK Mark Birighitti for good measure.

Nineteen-year-old Mariners forward Sam Silvera had been battling hard all half and earned his good fortune when Tratt gave away possession with a clumsy error in an innocuous position.

Silvera’s mugging of Tratt must have made him feel a right pratt, as the youngster raced towards goal, his shot sailing past Reddy with some style, delivering a killer blow to Glory just before half time.

Glory dominated the second half but the Mariners blocked numerous shots and comfortably defended their slender lead.

The Perth side huffed and puffed, over-reliant on Castro to provide a creative spark, but looked laboured and predictable. The last drama of the match came in the 93^rd minute. An audacious back heel from Castro to the villainous Tratt provided Glory substitute Nick D’Agostino with the opportunity of a late equaliser.

D’Agostino couldn’t get his head to it so the Mariners held on for a morale-boosting win over the reigning Premiers.

Mariners coach Alen Stajcic didn’t look that happy about it, but he did enthuse about Sam Silvera who scored what proved to be the winning goal:

Mariners coach Alen Stajcic. Credit: McNeela/Prost.

“Sam’s such an explosive player, they felt a bit of fear every time he ran at them.”

Popovic bemoaned the home side’s performance:

Popovic unhappy with defensive frailties. Credit: McNeela/Prost.

“We were lethargic. It was hot. We came from Wellingon last week, they came off a bye. The back line didn’t look cohesive. We didn’t handle their intensity well in the first half.”

Attendance: 8,148

Perth Glory: Reddy; Kim (Chianese 59’), Grant, Wuthrich (booked) (Tratt 38’), Malik (D’Agostino 76’), Franjic; Kilkenny, Juande; Castro, Fornaroli, Ikonomidis

Central Coast Mariners: Birighitti; Clisby (booked), Rowles (Tongyik 75’), Fox, Gordon (booked); Stensness, De Silva (Kim 58’), Duric, Gallifuoco; Oar (Simon 79’), Silvera