The Mariner's Liberty A-League Women's team lost a tight encounter on Saturday night against F3 rivals Newcastle Jets. The final score in the season opener and the Mariner's first home game at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford was 1 goal to nil in favour of the visitors.
The game was played in front of 5,735 fans which at the time was a record for the highest ground attendance for a women's A-League fixture in Australia. Unfortunately, that record was broken with the Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers game that was played later in the same evening.
The game started cautiously with both sides trying to find their range and angles with their passes. Newcastle had a couple of chances in the first half that were well handled by new Mariner's goalkeeper Courtney Newbon. Courtney was a late inclusion in the Mariner's squad, signing a contract only days before the game when experienced keeper Sarah Langman suffered an injury.
The score at half-time was tied at 0-all.
Whatever was said in the change rooms at half-time spurred on the Mariner's side who started to attack more frequently and with more purpose.
The Mariner's intensity was raised another level after the 55th minute when coach Emily Husband made two substitutions, bringing on two forwards in Peta Trimis and Chinese import Wurigumu. These changes had immediate effect with the Mariners breaking the Newcastle defence on several occasions but were unable to convert those opportunities.
The game was opened up in the 79th minute when a player from both sides were shown a yellow card, being their second for the night resulting in a red card being issued to each of them. Defender Faye Bryson was the Mariner's recipient of the red card while Newcastle's defender Alexandra Huynh was also ejected from the game.
It was Newcastle who reacted best, scoring 2 minutes after the red cards were issued.
This was to be the final score in a well-fought F3 Derby.
The next game for the Mariner's Liberty A-League Women's team is an away game against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 5pm on Friday, 20th October 2023. The game can be viewed on Paramount+.