Reddy’s One-man Show
I have no idea how the Mariners took the three points today: this was as shambolic a performance as I can remember. Even with Reddy taking the glory with a string of saves Wellington should have won this. On what should have been a glorious celebration of football at the iconic North Sydney Oval the Mariners simply did not turn up.
An apparently exhausted McGlinchey was omitted from the line-up and Duke was relegated to the bench: Fitzgerald and Sterjovski started. The Mariners were hopeless right from the start, seemingly unable to keep their footing on the baked grassy surface.
Wellington was the first to show as Huysegems was given all the time and space in the world but hit his shot straight at the advancing Reddy: it was pretty much the script for the first half as Wellington, without a win this season, kept firing shots at the Mariners goal, one shot as a result of a gift from Hutchinson; the fourth shot forcing Reddy full length for a fine save. All the Mariners had been able to muster was a well hit shot from Fitzgerald which deflected wide and then, against the run of play, Roux scored.
It was the first time we had seen Roux venture forward. He set Sterjovski free on the right and when Wellington failed to clear Roux banged the ball into the net. It was great reward for positive play.
The Mariners did not lift however and continued to play poorly, utterly failing to keep possession, and Wellington kept pressing forward and Reddy kept saving everything they threw at him. It was a remarkable display from the keeper who single handedly was keeping the Mariners in the game. Only once was he beaten, by a header, and Montgomery cleared off the line.
It used to be that at each Mariners’ training session that every player would meet and greet the other players, shaking their hand in a symbol of mateship and togetherness: you got the impression that they no longer do this as the players seemed to be complete strangers to each other today. At half time you hoped Moss would remind them of this team ethic.
Four minutes into the second half and Wellington was offered a penalty. It came from one of the most limp-wristed feeble spells of defending I have seen from any Mariners side. Tackle after tackle was attempted and lost; the power and determination was as powerful as a Weetbix biscuit. Finally Roux capitulated and Wellington got the penalty. Up stepped Reddy, unbeatable on the day, to thwart Huysegems; a crucial moment.
The Mariners actually lifted a gear and began to play some decent football. Fine work from the energetic Fitzgerald gave Flores an opportunity but his careful shot was just too close to Glen Moss; Sainsbury then had a cheeky dig from his own half, it was well wide but at least he had a go, and then Moss produced the save of the game, a spectacular reflex save from Fitzgerald after excellent work from Roux.
It didn’t last; the Mariners lacked composure, hacking the ball away instead of playing out and Wellington pressed forward playing their ace, bringing on the brilliant talisman Paul Ifill. Ifill is a journeyman footballer who didn’t quite fulfil his potential in English football but who is almost a God in Wellington. Reduced to cameo roles, his searing pace gone, he still possesses sublime skills, high intelligence and aggressive intent. He absolutely terrorised the Mariners in the last half-hour; only Reddy stood in defiance, diving for save after save, and brilliantly plucking crosses from the air.
The Mariners sat deep, Flores replaced by Mat Simon to allow McBreen to drop back. It was negative tactics; it makes you wonder if Moss simply does not trust Caceres. Somehow the Mariners held on and took the three very valuable points.
Phil Moss said afterwards that the players were so dejected by the performance it was as if they had lost; that is a good thing; hopefully it means they have the character to bounce back in the next game.
It is quite possible that the random irrational outbursts of Mike Charlesworth is having a destabilising effect; it is possible that losing tough mentor Graham Arnold, and tough driving Andrew Clark, is proving harder to overcome; it is possible that the players are demoralised by yet another player, Michael McGlinchey, probably leaving. Or it may be that the players simply don’t want the Mariners to be based in North Sydney. Whatever the cause, there is no doubt that the Mariners lacked leadership today, on and off the park. That problem must be solved, and quickly.
In a game where Liam Reddy had to make ten saves, including a penalty, there can only be one candidate for Man of the Match. In a game where your keeper has to make ten saves against the worst team in the competition the back four and the holding midfielders must ask serious questions of themselves.
