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The Central Coast Mariners will participate in the 2006-07 A-League competition, hoping to build on their strong performance in the previous domestic season, which included a Pre-Season Cup title, a finals appearance in the World Club Qualification playoff and their participation in the inaugural A-League grand final.
Transfers
On the back of the Mariners' highly-successful first season, expectation arose as to the potential big-name players that could potentially join Central Coast. There were strong rumors about Stan Lazaridis, Ned Zelic and Paul Okon coming to the Mariners, but none eventuated. However, on August 3rd, 2006 Tony Vidmar announced he was joining the Mariners, signing a two-year deal.
In
Vuko Tomasevic (from Marconi Stallions)- Jamie McMaster (promoted to full first team status)
- Brad Porter (promoted to full first team status)
- Tony Vidmar (from
NAC Breda) - Matthew Trott (signed on a short-term deal to cover for injuries)
- James Holland (signed on a short-term deal to cover for injuries)
- Oliver Bozanic (signed on a short-term deal to cover for injuries)
- Mile Jedinak (signed on a short-term deal to cover for injuries)
- Matt Simon (signed on a short-term deal to cover for injuries)
Out
- Dean Heffernan (on loan to
1. FC Nürnberg) - Michael Beauchamp (on loan to 1. FC Nürnberg)
- Russell Woodruffe (released)
- Leo Carle (released)
- Ian Ferguson (short-term deal expired)
- Dez Giraldi (short-term deal expired)
Pre-Season Cup
Summary
| Round | Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15th July 2006 | Central Coast | 2-1 | Perth Glory | 5,682 |
| 2 | 22nd July 2006 | Central Coast | 0-0 | Adelaide United | 4,344 |
| 3 | 29th July 2006 | Melbourne Victory | 1-3 | Central Coast | 6,593 |
| 4 | 6th August 2006 | Queensland Roar | 0-0 | Central Coast | 4,571 |
| Playoff | 12th August 2006 | Central Coast | 2-1 | Newcastle Jets | 7,567 |
| Grand Final | 19th August 2006 | Central Coast | (4) 1-1 (5) | Adelaide United (PEN) | 10,463 |
The Mariners were put in Group A, along with Adelaide United (3rd in 2005-06 A-League season), Perth Glory (5th) and Melbourne Victory (7th). They have two home games in the three-game round-robin series, however one is to be played at Wade Park, Orange, New South Wales, against Adelaide United, and the other at their traditional home, Central Coast Stadium.
Central Coast started their defence of the Pre-Season Cup well, defeating Perth Glory - the team they defeated in the 2005 Pre-Season Cup final - 2-1 at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford in front of 5,682 spectators. Both Central Coast strikers, Stewart Petrie and Adam Kwasnik, scored early goals. [1] [2] They followed this up with a gritty nil-all draw at Wade Park against last years' minor premiers, Adelaide United. Coach McKinna said after the game he was "quite contented with the result". [3] For their final Group A game, they travelled to Melbourne's Olympic Park, where they downed Melbourne Victory 3-1, with Adam Kwasnik, Paul O'Grady and Noel Spencer all scoring for the Mariners. [4]
Central Coast played their "bonus" 4th group-crossover round against the Queensland Roar. The "bonus" round awarded "bonus points" based on goals scored (1 point for 2 goals, 2 points for 3 goals, 3 points for 4 or more goals). On this occasion, the Mariners and Roar drew 0-0, and both earned the conventional 1 point for a draw. [5]
Finishing on top of Group A, with Adelaide United relegated to second on goal differential, they took on Newcastle Jets in a fiery local derby. Newcastle took the lead in the 25th minute, before Stewart Petrie converted a penalty in the 53rd minute. The game progressed into extra time, and a 96th minute header from Paul O'Grady gave the Mariners a chance to defend their Pre-Season title in what will be their fourth consecutive domestic final in as many competition entries. [6] [7]
Table
Group A
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:ALeague CCM | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Template:ALeague AU | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Template:ALeague MV | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Template:ALeague PG | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Group B
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:ALeague SFC | 12 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Template:ALeague NUJ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Template:ALeague NZK [8] | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Template:ALeague QR [8] | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Finals
2006-07 A-League Season
Summary
| Round | Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 August 2006 | Sydney FC | 1-0 | Central Coast | 19278 |
| 2 | 3 September 2006 | Perth Glory | — | Central Coast | — |
| 3 | 9 September 2006 | Central Coast | — | Queensland Roar | — |
| 4 | 17 September 2006 | Melbourne Victory | — | Central Coast | — |
| 5 | 23 September 2006 | Central Coast | — | Newcastle Jets | — |
| 6 | 28 September 2006 | New Zealand Knights | — | Central Coast | — |
| 7 | 6 October 2006 | Adelaide United | — | Central Coast | — |
| 8 | 13 October 2006 | Central Coast | — | Sydney FC | — |
| 9 | 20 October 2006 | Central Coast | — | Perth Glory | — |
| 10 | 28 October 2006 | Central Coast | — | Queensland Roar | — |
| 11 | 3 November 2006 | Melbourne Victory | — | Central Coast | — |
| 12 | 12 November 2006 | Newcastle Jets | — | Central Coast | — |
| 13 | 19 November 2006 | New Zealand Knights | — | Central Coast | — |
| 14 | 25 November 2006 | Central Coast | — | Adelaide United | — |
| 15 | 3 December 2006 | Central Coast | — | Sydney FC | — |
| 16 | 10 December 2006 | Central Coast | — | Perth Glory | — |
| 17 | 16 December 2006 | Queensland Roar | — | Central Coast | — |
| 18 | 31 December 2006 | Central Coast | — | Melbourne Victory | — |
| 19 | 5 January 2006 | Newcastle Jets | — | Central Coast | — |
| 20 | 11 January 2006 | Central Coast | — | New Zealand Knights | — |
| 21 | 21 January 2006 | Central Coast | — | Adelaide United | — |
Table
References
- ^ "Mariners, Sydney FC notch preseason wins". ABC Sport. 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mariners impress with first up victory". Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website). 2006-07-15. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mariners earn tough draw against reigning Premiers". Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website). 2006-07-22. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mariners' title defence on track after win". Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website). 2006-07-29. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mariners book home semi final after stalemate". Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website). 2006-08-06. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Mariners set up title defence after derby win". Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website). 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ 2005 Pre-Season Cup, 2005 World Club Qualification, 2005-06 A-League, 2006 Pre-Season Cup
- ^ a b As the New Zealand Knights and Queensland Roar were tied on points, goal difference, goals for, goals against, and points earned in the "Bonus Round", the sixth degree of disambiguality, number of red cards recieved, was used. See official A-League press release for more details.