FFA CUP QUARTER FINAL...Sharks filleted by Mariners

Palm Beach Sharks 0

Central Coast Mariners 5 (Cernak 28’, Sim 72’, 75’, 90’, 90+2’)

Cbus Super Stadium, Robina

Referee: Jarred Gillett

Attendance: 2,035

Central Coast Mariners: 

4. Richard VERNES (29. Matthew SIM 71’), 5. Zac ANDERSON, 7. John HUTCHINSON (C), 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 12. Liam REDDY (Gk), 13. Hayden MORTON, 17. Anthony CACERES, 18. Michael NEILL, 25. Eddy BOSNAR, 27. Isaka CERNAK (22. Tom SLATER 85’), 28. Glen TRIFIRO (20. Anthony KALIK 81’)

Substitutes not used: 1. Beyhan IRMAKO (Gk), 33. Josh BINGHAM

Yellow cards: Sim

Palm Beach Sharks:

 1. Shane VITAKANGAS (Gk), 2. Riley DILLON, 7. Justyn MCKAY (C), 9. Christopher LUCAS, 11. Nikola MIRKOVIC (12. Daniel GRZIC 81’), 15. Eoghan MURPHY, 16. Jack BOXELL (3. Jordan MASON 65’), 17. Kristian REES, 18. Troy RUTHVEN, 19. Daniel DRAGICEVIC (14. Jonathon CAMILLERI 26’), 23. Karl DODD

Substitutes not used: 4. Ethan GRIMLEY, 20. Jack LITTLEJOHN (Gk)

Yellow cards: Rees, Grzic

Red cards: Nil 

It was good to see the Gold Coast Stadium finally get a half decent crowd ...lord knows Gold Coast United couldnt draw flies..... ANYWAY....

You would expect this sort of scoreline, for all the usual reasons, full timers v part timers , better training, BUT...the boys look to be in slo-mo for a goodly percentage of the first half...Twitter was going birko about Mossys laid back play style...

Yes, we had 70% percent of the possesion in the first half, BUT, The Sharks definately "parked the bus" ...clearly  Mossy was waiting for Palm Beach to run out of legs.

Then up stood the Mighty Triffers, the FFA cup was made for the man, his been on fire in the cup thus far, and without a shade of a doubt was the general populaces Man of the Match.

Triffers started the scoring off by passing a brilliant ball to, of all people, Isaka Cernak, who banged it home on the 28th minute...I have to say that Isaka Cernak impressed in the first half , him and Morts owned thair side of the pitch, I have to wonder why he dont do that more often

Richie Vernes, Fitzy and Micky Neill had a bit of a quiet one last night, commentators were banging on about Vernes being new to the country, and a few twits were saying he was a bit crap, I think that once he gets his head around aussie football, which is a different beast to anything his done thus far, he will be alright...as for Micky Neill, well his just back from multiple knee destructions, so maybe his a bit gun shy...as for Fitzy, well, I still maintain that he should be starting games with Matty Sim as his 65 minute swap over...so thats  that

NOW...to Matty Sim...the ex Manly United player was over the moon stoked with his efforts from the Gold Coast match – Matt has become just the third Mariner in the Club’s history to net a hat-trick in a competitive fixture, and the first ever to score a quadrella[?} in a game of substantial significance.

Mossy said after the game....
“I thought we played well tonight in large patches which is nice to say,” . “We had a lot of possession, but it’s only effective possession if you score goals on the end of it and we have a few to show for it tonight.”...“We had to be patient, we had to move the ball side to side and then play through the lines when we had the opportunity, so overall I am very happy.”

“You always hope that your subs can give you an impact and I think he [Sim] gave that and then some tonight. It’s a reward for all his hard work, he stepped up form the state league last season but he’s certainly not regarded as a state league player anymore, he’s truly arrived as an A-League player and I thought what he did tonight was just reward for all his hard work.”

YEP...Matty Sim...not only 4 goals but a yellow as well! That's really throwing yourself about. 

It ended up being an easy win against a toothless opponent. We are still a bit too static with our movement off the ball but a marked improvement on previous couple of outings.

Reddy 7. Nothing to do.

Neill 6. Willing effort. Made a few mistakes.

Morton 6. see above

Ando 8. Dominant performance.

Bosnar 7. Solid. Both CB enjoyed a picnic as the Sharks attacked like we normally do......from very very deep.

Vernes 6. Clearly has skill and touch but looks underdone.

Hutcho 7.5. Enjoyed an easy night against a soft midfield but played well. Passes found feet and was willing to drive forward a little more than usual.

Caceras 6.5. Reasonably tidy. Passing could be more accurate.

Fitz 6.5. Worked hard and a decent game.

Cernak 7. Good game. Looked dangerous and lively.

Trif 8.5. Great game. Intelligent player. MOM.

Sim 8. Great reward for someone who made it happen for himself. The 4th goal was excellent. The others were simple but he made sure he was in the right spot to take advantage. His touch is not fantastic but his work rate is.

So...there you have it, getting this far in the cup has been pretty much what all us Yellow Army members have expected...can we win the inaugrual cup?....CAN WE WHAT!

Nix on Saturday at The Fortress...Wee Mac is gonna get a welcome methinks