The Grand Final and reflections

[kevrenor]

At home, sitting updating BOTN as I couldn't face the further depression of going to Gosford and having bad, not good, memories for the next 5-7 months. So bloody long!

I will write my reflections later, once I've got out of this mood. For now, let me tell you that just on Football Fever on 2KY Francis Awaritefe stated that Michael Beauchamp was his Man of the Match. Lawrie was on too and stated the same, and that he would find it hard to keep Meggsy. He said that he only expected 3 new signings next season.

Guys and gals - remember all off season - Mariners 'till we die!

[Farthing]

When sydney scored i was shattered to say the least and i still am coming to grips with the fact we came all this way and lost. But in saying that they put in a great effort and they werent dominated at all by sydney it was a close game in my mind. just in the 5 minutes before sydney scored Sydney really looked like they were going to score.

They got 3rd and wernt expected to make the final and werent really expected to achieve anything this season and they came and proved everyone wrong and made the Grand Final. They have been to every grand final that has been on offer to them, that is a great accomplishment.

They might have lost today but i am still proud that that fought it out for the full 90 minutes and didnt give up. I am still proud of them and i cant wait to get sydney back next year.

[jollyroger]

Just got home. I dont think i could be more proud of our boys. I felt proud to be from the Central Coast today and have these magnificent guys out on the park representing us.

I thought we played extremely well. As good as ive seen for a long time. Its a pity we didnt make the most of our chances. While the game didnt go the way we would have liked, i thought overall it was a great game to top off the inaugural A-league season.

Your right about Michael Beauchamp. To be honest, tonight may well be his last game for us. I think he's certainly a front runner for a spot in the Australian backline. If we have a good run in the world cup, and hes a regular starter, a move to europe would have to be on the cards.

[geordieglory]

I thought it was a great day to watch the Mariners. But it had a sad ending.

Well, look to the future and hopefully it will be a Perth vs Mariners final .

Guttered would be the word.

Always look on the bright side of life.

Great experience spending time with the Marinators today. Shall see you all in the 2006/07 season. But I will remain on the forum as usual.

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

i'm not often thrilled when watching centre halves, but meggsi was outstanding. his timing in the tackle, composure generally, athleticism (while never appearing tired nor flustered) and his poaching balls he should never have won...

took the piss all game, made dwight look like a kid in the park, deserved two medals - a winner's medal and the marston medal.

next year folks - we're gonna be right in it (again). when's preseason start?

[uboat]

Personally I thought the day was awesome.

OK we lost, but the passion, the singing and the way the supporters still sang after we lost was almost as spine tingling as winning.

Today the Mariners did as much for Australian soccer as any team has ever done in the History of the game.

We created an atmosphere and in defeat no trouble... just applause for our defeated warriors.

As we walked back to Central Station many Sydney supporters applauded my son as he still held his scarf high and sang for his beloved team.

We can be very proud of our team and our support.

See you all next year when the team and crowds will be bigger and better than ever.

[blackadder]

Not from the coast, but couldn't be prouder of all involved at the Mariners the community work has been fantastic and the support in the finals has been fruit of that labour.

Can some one explain how the hell Yorke got that medal for best on ground..I am sure Robbie Slater managed to get off over that

[greenpoleffc]

What a great day for the Coast, no trouble, no venom (so not like Scumville then) and I thought Beauchamp was a class above today.

I said to my family that we might have seen him play his last game for us, he was superb today.

Apart from the lay off for the goal, Yorke was total shite.

Good news, actually dragged my wife along to her first sporting event in 20 years and she is now hooked. Crowd up by at least 1 next year :-)

[greenpoint]

The atmosphere in the away enclosure today was incredible - but how did they let so many Sydney FC supporters in?

Marinators and others, we all did our utmost in trying to get the lads home today. I don't think we've ever sounded better, and all the away bays were joining in on the chants.

And that's not to speak of what happened on the pitch. I thought we really dominated the first half, and Stew was damn unlucky not to have scored on a few occasions. Beauchamp, Gumps, The Heff and O'Sullivan gave us heaps to cheer about.

Now, who can we hold onto for next season?

[congo]

When I got the SMS in Africa from my wife and kids at the ground that the Mariner's had been pipped I too was disappointed BUT let's not lose sight of an amazing season by the club, the management, team and supporters. The Mariner's are a credit to the game and to our community for their efforts in their inaugural season on and off the pitch and I can't wait for next season. Well done to the large number of supporters and remember look at who backed Sydney FC, SNSW, their level of resources and compare it with the Mariners. The real winners today were football & the Coast.

[jaksar]

You guys have every right to be proud, in more ways than one.

Be proud of your boys. They played all over us in the first half and it was only due to a remarkable job by our back 4 that you guys didn't net a few goals. CCM are truly a class team, and after having to watch Sydney play those long ball hacks Adelaide for the last 3 weeks in a row it was excellent to see some quality passing football. Your boys did you proud!

Be proud of your fellow supporters. Never in all my time in the Cove have I seen such a passionate display of away support. The only away support we have ever heard from up our end. WELL DONE!! The boys who came to visit us in the cricketers, it was great to see some of you guys again.

Be proud of your club! I have never bought this 'fairy tail' stuff (I mean, you guys have been in 3 out of 3 finals), your a quality club, with a quality team and quality support. Your team made it where they are because they are a great team, no fairy dust required!

So although we came away with the result to day, you can all hold your head up high and stand proud for your boys, your club and your support.

Thanks
Jak!

[MrCelery]

I'm totally devestated at the result. How it hurts.
Thanks to Auburn Mariner and other for their kind words of consolation. I just could'nt bear to front up at the CCLC I'm afraid.

On the bright side, the Marinators Express train was awesome, as was the entertainment in the KB and Cricketers, especially the good natured but passionate singing in the beer garden. Well done Cove!

The game was all I expected and more - stunning atmosphere and a powerhouse performance from the boys in the first half.

I thought the Cove were very quiet, but they didn't have much to sing about. We should have been 3 up at half time. Made the Bling look very ordinary.

Second half a different story. It was too much to expect that we could keep up the intensity of the first half. SYdney shaded us in the second standza, but not by much. Lots of end-to-end battles, but seeing Tommy P in the defence so much said heaps - all bad. Credit to Yorke - he was shite in the first half, and very good in the second. And a good run and pass to set up the goal. Worthy of Man of the Match? Call in the stewards please. That was a very poor decision.

Mariners fans were loud and proud (as usual), even when loosing. Well co-ordinated by the Megaphone Men. Great effort one and all!!!

Thanks to the Cove for their good natured friendship all year. You did you Club proud too.

Campaign 06/07 begins...

[omni]

Gutted doesn't begin to describe it!

We could have won and didn't credit to the players for going until 93 but unfortunately just short.

The Joe Marston Medal has been tainted, Dwight Yorke, did Robbie pick it or something, disgusting decision!

[yellowcake]

Reflections?

I'm trying to concentate on a few positives (to help console myself - not really working, who knows? - they might be useful to somebody)

I'm so glad the Mariners and the superb support today were part of the (+ my) GF experience. It was a fitting game to end to the inaugural season.

I'm proud thet they played so well, clearly dominating the first half and clearly silencing the physically greater Sydney crowd who must have been sh*tting themselves early. If only one of those chances could have found the back of the net.


The reality?

Early in the season when Sydney were having a rough run and were well down the table (helped in part by their only home loss and Adelaide were on top, I thought Sydney would win it, so in some ways nothings changed. EXCEPT I would have daydreamed, not predicted, that we'd be there and go so close.

The only team to have had a place in all three deciders to date, one piece of silverware, our comparatively tiny region pulling a top 10 biggest crowd out of 111 games since the CWC started, the effect the Mariners have had on the CC community (the only region in Australia where football is now THE dominant code to play OR support) - enough said. Bring on next year!

[brett]

[juicyfruit]

Ive always been proud to be from the central coast and have never been so glad to go over the Hawkesbury bridge I cried like a little girl last night NOT cause I was disspointed with our team but dissapointed FOR our team they played like champions they held there heads high in defeat and even while their hearts were breaking they took time to aknowledge their supporters I know the Coast be there next yr chanting and singing for OUR CHAMPIONS Mariners till I die!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NOMESSSS.]

did any one else notice how sydney were out to kill megsy?
boys did me proud.well done

[pom pom]

wyomingtiger said:

i know how ya feel tiger.......
i shed a little tear this morn when looking at the paper. they deserved it so much more......
unlucky 13 !!!!!

but I'm so proud of our team.they played like champions,because thats what they are.
the only thing i was disappointed about was that the other "fans" in bay 3 stopped singing..........

they are like phar lap.they give people hope........(deep huh)

[AndyFrain]

Yeah i’m more gutted this morning than I was driving back to Canberra last night. It’s a game of chances and the Mariners simply didn’t take them or didn’t back themselves to take them. O’Sullivan should have just gone straight for goal in the 1st half rather than try to cut inside, you have to back yourself from there and have a ping. There were a few other occasions just like it in the 1st half.

I’ve been saying for about 6 weeks that the Mariners were one striker away from winning the comp. This morning I feel that this was correct. If either Mrdja or Hutchy were there then I’m sure the Mariners would have bagged one. Petrie isn’t up to it, his finishing is poor and his movement is non existent. Pondeljak has been carrying him for weeks and is the only one who gives a proper through ball option up front. Tommy will go to another level with another decent striker to drag players away from him.

I thought the defence was fantastic again. Some of the challenges and balls they won were superb. The midfield killed Sydney in the 1st half but ran out of puff in the 2nd half. Yorke was outstanding for the last 30 minutes when he had the room, Spencer and Gumpy shut him down brilliantly for 60 minutes and they should be proud of their efforts on a class player. Why oh why did 3 defenders jockey Yorke into the box for the goal I will never know though…..you have to put a foot in outside the box against a player like that, you can’t watch him run in there and let him stand on the ball. It was right below me where it happened….it was like it was in ‘slow mo’. My heart sank. The Mariners didn’t play anything that resembled the football we know they can play after that, they bottled it. My mate was correct when he said that he had never seen a goal kill a game like that before, I agree. It is normally the opposite.

All in all, I was damn proud to see the Mariners and their fans represent the Central Coast so wonderfully. The first year has been one hell of a ride and I have enjoyed the A League immensely. The Grand Final capped off what has been a massive success for Australian Soccer and I was proud as anything sitting in that ground watching a game of a decent standard listening to the singing and atmosphere.

Also, it has been fantastic getting on this site and discussing the various aspects of the Mariners and the game in general. My thanks go to those who have made this place what it is.

Bring on the World Cup!!!

[Merrinator]

Great pics Celery I have uploaded the ones I took on to my photoalbum site. As you can see I was too lazy to get down the front of the bay so lots of pics of ppl's backs LOL.

www.merrillie.net/gallery/v/mariners/

Was a super day and I am still exhausted, can' begin to imagine how much more exhausted I would be if the boys had won.

Am proud of the Mariners and the supporters for not only everyones effort during the season but their wonderful behaviour after the grand final game. Good sportsmanship is and should always be an aussie tradition.