An impressive hit out from the Mariners; the pity is that they didn’t take the win which their football, especially in the first half, deserved. An inexperienced line-up of youth players and trialists with a bit of steel from Monty and Reddy were generally superior to an almost full strength Jets.
In the first half Birghitti had to make five saves to Reddy’s one; in the second half the Mariners allowed the Jets back into it but then finished with a late flurry and almost got the winner from Montgomery.
Monty dominated proceedings the whole game, a real captain’s knock. Trifiro showed quite amazing close skills and will be a force in the upcoming A League season. Of the young players Liam Rose looks like a real prospect, perhaps the eventual replacement for Hutch? Michael Neill impressed too, and will be a very good player when he learns how and when to cross the ball. Two more centre backs, Poscoliero and Cairncross, were trialled as Moss tries to fill the gaps in depth at the back. Poscoliero, who has spent time in Italy, looked good on the ball and Cairncross, who played for Sydney a couple of years back, both did OK, lots of composure in their play, but whether they have the goods for the A League only Mossy can say.
Travis Major, a known NSWPL player, had a run at centre forward, he had an impressive shot saved in the first half, and looked willing but perhaps lacking in technique. He might, though, be one of the NSWPL players that Moss can turn into something more useful.
Of the imports, Vernes, on in the first half, showed some nice touches, and good running off the ball; while Mané, who came on after an hour, hardly saw the ball before exploding into life late on with a superb run and cross down the right. He has good tight skills and is very quick.
Marcos Flores came on for the Jets in the second half but was almost anonymous.
Moss will be pleased with this hit out; the structure and composure was excellent in the first half. Clearly many of the young players are being schooled in the Mariners way. We should have scored from a couple of chances in the first half but in the second we were pretty toothless. Defensively, considering the inexperience at the back, we did well; we looked like we knew what we were doing. Our ability to swarm the ball carrier often paid dividends; the Mariners were very quick to regroup whenever danger threatened. The improvement continues.
Oh, and that low life, Griffiths, could so easily have been given a straight red for a spiteful tackle from behind on Liam Rose. I think the referee gave the yellow because it was a 'friendly' game
