Mariners maintain charge
11/05/2010 12:11:36 PM
The Central Coast Mariners have maintained their charge up the A-League table, edging out North Queensland in a 1-0 result at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday night.
In an entertaining clash, the visitors followed on from their 5-0 thrashing of Perth Glory last Saturday night by going ahead in the 36th minute through Patrick Zwaanswijk's header.
Fury youngster David Williams threatened an equaliser on a number of occasions but his best chance to score in the 81st minute was thwarted by some heroics from Mariners' keeper Matthew Ryan.
The result sees Central Coast consolidate third on the A-League Table behind Brisbane and Adelaide as North Queensland remains in ninth.
It was an all-action start to this contest for Central Coast, though, as Michael McGlinchey missed an early chance after a Fury defensive mistake before former North Queensland striker Daniel McBreen lobbed the ball over Justin Pasfield, only to see an almost certain goal cleared on the line by Andre Killian.
But when it came the goal was simplicity itself, as Zwaanswijk rose high to power home a corner nine minutes before the break.
The Fury's best chance came in the 81st minute as Williams was sent through on goal, but realising the danger, Ryan bravely smothered the ball at his feet;
Williams probably should have been awarded a penalty as he was brought to ground by Ryan's actions, but when the referee waved play on, the Mariners hung on for their second consecutive win.
North Queensland Fury 0
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Zwaanswijk 36)
Crowd 3625 at Dairy Farmers Stadium