Kwasnik penalty seals Mariners first win

The Central Coast Mariners have recorded their first win of the 2006/07 Hyundai A-League season tonight, defeating a spirited New Zealand Knights side 1-0 at North Harbour Stadium.

In what was a typically gritty and, at times, dissonant encounter across the Tasman, it was Adam Kwasnik that emerged as the hero for the visitors, slotting a penalty late in the second half after new recruit Damian Mori was felled by Knights defender Che Bunce – a tackle that earned the New Zealand international a red card.

More drama was to follow in the dying minutes as the home side had another player dismissed, with Swiss fullback Gregory Duruz marched for a stray elbow on Matthew Osman that incited a touchline melee.

Ultimately though, after one of the more frantic and heated finishes to an A-League match this season, it was the Mariners who emerged victorious, breaking some significant shackles that have so far stalled the inaugural A-League Grand Finalists progress in season two.

The 1-0 triumph ended the Mariners’ longest ever run of matches without a win in the A-League – six, saw them record their debut victory of the season and maintain just their second clean sheet in the process.

Should the Mariners take three points away from next Friday’s trip to Hindmarsh Stadium, they will have registered just one point less than what they had after one full round in 2005/06, a season that famously earmarked the Mariners as a powerhouse of Australian football’s new era.

“It’s always very tough over here, the conditions made it very tough for us and New Zealand played a very resolute game and were quite hard to break down – we were made to work very hard for our goal,“ said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman after the match.

“Getting these three points is very relieving for us, obviously, we just needed that little bit of luck and tonight we got it in the form of a late penalty, we’ve definitely played a lot better than what we did tonight and lost matches this season.”

Both sides struggled to come to terms with a less-than-ideal North Harbour Stadium surface throughout the ninety minutes, with chances few and far between across both halves.

Stewart Petrie, operating on the left wing as opposed to up front, came closest for the Mariners in somewhat fortuitous circumstances midway through the second half, miscuing a free kick that rattled the cross bar.

The end result was particularly poignant for goal scorer Kwasnik, who erased memories of his penalty miss against the Newcastle Jets in the Pre-Season Cup semi final by netting the crucial winner – his third A-League goal.

With key attacking options Wayne O’Sullivan, Andre Gumprecht, John Hutchinson and Nik Mrdja still on the sidelines for the Mariners, Football Manager Lawrie McKinna, who missed this match due to a family bereavement in Scotland, will be hoping this result will incite a change in the Mariners fortunes in 2006/07.

“I think, and hope, that tonight is a turning point for us,” said Gorman.

“All the boys have left here with their heads up and in a very buoyant mood, though we still have a lot more to achieve this season.”

The Mariners next outing is away to last season’s Premiers Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday, 6 October, kick off is at 8pm EST.

The Mariners return to Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium the following Friday, 13 October when they line up against southern rivals Sydney FC. Kick off is at 7pm.

Tickets are now on sale from Ticketek outlets, the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.

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