2007–08 Central Coast Mariners FC season

Central Coast Mariners 2007–08 football season
Central Coast Mariners
2007–08 season
ChairmanLyall Gorman
ManagerLawrie McKinna
StadiumBluetongue Stadium
A-League regular seasonPremiers
A-League finalsRunners-up
Pre-Season Cup4th
Top goalscorerLeague:
John Aloisi (7)
All:
Sasho Petrovski (9)
Highest home attendance36,354 vs Newcastle Jets
(24 February 2008)

The 2007–08 season was the 3rd season of competitive football played by Central Coast Mariners. The Mariners ended the season as A-League Premiers after topping the table in the regular season, but runners-up in the Championship after losing to local rivals Newcastle Jets in the 2008 A-League Grand Final.

In the transfer window the club signed experienced striker Sasho Petrovski and former Adelaide United midfielder Greg Owens. Left back Dean Heffernan also returned to the club after completing a loan spell with 1. FC Nürnberg. Club captain Noel Spencer was released, joining Sydney FC.

After a mixed pre-season, finishing fourth in the 2007 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup, the Mariners began the 2007–08 A-League in good form, undefeated for their first five games. Winless runs in October and January saw a number of clubs threaten Central Coast at the top of the table. This included a 5–4 loss to Sydney FC in December, breaking the record for goals in an A-League match. The mid-season addition of Socceroo John Aloisi proved successful, with the striker scoring a team-high seven league goals. A win over Wellington Phoenix in the final game of the regular season secured a first Premiership for the club, ahead of Newcastle Jets on goal difference. In the Finals Series, the Mariners advanced to the Grand Final by defeating the Jets 3–2 over two legs. The Jets, however, claimed the Championship with a 1–0 win in controversial circumstances at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Background

The Mariners ended the previous season in sixth, missing out on the Finals Series.

Transfers

In
No. Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Ref
22 FW Sasho Petrovski Sydney FC Free 12 February 2007 [1]
23 MF Mile Jedinak Sydney United Free 26 February 2007 [2]
12 MF Greg Owens Adelaide United Free 12 March 2007 [3]
8 DF Dean Heffernan 1. FC Nürnberg Loan return 6 June 2007 [4]
30 GK Andrew Redmayne Australian Institute of Sport Free 19 June 2007 [5]
4 MF Ian McAndrew Central Coast Lightning Free 1 August 2007 [6]
24 FW Damian Mori Adelaide City Free 21 September 2007 [7]
25 FW John Aloisi Free agent N/A 19 October 2007 [8]
26 DF Alvin Ceccoli Free agent N/A 3 January 2008 [9]
Out
No. Position Player Transferred to Fee Date Ref
14 DF Vuko Tomasevic Free agent N/A 25 January 2007 [10]
2 DF Wayne O'Sullivan Free agent N/A 25 January 2007 [10]
4 MF Noel Spencer Sydney FC Free 16 February 2007 [11]
8 MF Jamie McMaster Free agent N/A 18 April 2007 [12]
12 FW Stewart Petrie Free agent N/A 18 April 2007 [12]
1 GK John Crawley Retired N/A 19 June 2007 [5]
24 FW Damian Mori Free agent N/A 13 October 2007 [13]

Pre-season

Central Coast Mariners v Malaysia
22 May 2007 Friendly Central Coast Mariners 3–0 Malaysia Lisarow
Hutchinson 55'
Woodcock 78'
Owens 86'		 Report Stadium: Pluim Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: James Lewis

A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup

Group stage

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA BP Pts
Central Coast Mariners 3 2 1 0 6 1 3 10
Queensland Roar 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 6
Wellington Phoenix 3 1 0 2 4 4 2 5
Sydney FC 3 0 1 2 0 6 0 1
Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar
21 July 2007 2 Central Coast Mariners 1–1 Queensland Roar Orange
15:00 Boogaard 6' Report Lynch 60' Stadium: Wade Park
Attendance: 3,531
Referee: James Lewis
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
29 July 2007 3 Sydney FC 0–3 Central Coast Mariners Canberra
15:00 Report Osman 36'
Kwasnik 44'
Gumprecht 51'		 Stadium: Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 5,735
Referee: Ben Williams

Playoffs

Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
4 August 2007 Semi-final Central Coast Mariners 2–3 Perth Glory Gosford
18:00 Mrdja 43'
Petrovski 90'		 Report Dragičević 23'
Bertos 55'
Tarka 78'		 Stadium: Bluetongue Stadium
Attendance: 5,967
Referee: Ben Williams
Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar
12 August 2007 3rd place playoff Central Coast Mariners 1–3 Queensland Roar Gosford
16:00 Simon 9' Report Milicic 30'
Marchinho 48'
Reinaldo 86'		 Stadium: Bluetongue Stadium
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: James Lewis

2007–08 Hyundai A-League fixtures

Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
24 August 2007 Sydney FC 0–1 Central Coast Mariners Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
20:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary		 Petrovski 7' Attendance: 18,457
Referee: Australia Peter Green
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
31 August 2007 Central Coast Mariners 3–0 Wellington Phoenix Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
20:00 UTC+10 Mrdja 9', 35'
Kwasnik 13'		 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 9,052
Referee: Australia Peter Green
Queensland Roar v Central Coast Mariners
6 September 2007 Queensland Roar 0–1 Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
20:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary		 Kwasnik 55' Attendance: 8,815
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
16 September 2007 Melbourne Victory 0–0 Central Coast Mariners Telstra Dome, Melbourne
17:00 UTC+10 Report
Summary		 Vidmar Red card 90+2' Attendance: 27,351
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
23 September 2007 Central Coast Mariners 1–0 Perth Glory Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC+10 Petrovski 80' Report
Summary		 Attendance: 9,274
Referee: Australia Craig Zetter
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
30 September 2007 Adelaide United 2–1 Central Coast Mariners Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
16:30 UTC+9:30 Djite 19', 88' Report
Summary		 Petrovski 37'
Vidmar Yellow card 65' Yellow-red card 79'		 Attendance: 11,019
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
Central Coast Mariners v Queensland Roar
14 October 2007 Central Coast Mariners 0–1 Queensland Roar Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
17:00 UTC+10 Porter Red card 31' Report
Summary		 McCloughan 5' Attendance: 8,113
Referee: New Zealand Peter O'Leary
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
21 October 2007 Wellington Phoenix 1–2 Central Coast Mariners Westpac Stadium, Wellington
17:00 UTC+12 Elrich 24' Report
Summary		 Heffernan 16'
Petrovski 90+1'		 Attendance: 10,560
Referee: Australia Peter Green
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
28 October 2007 Sydney FC 3–2 Central Coast Mariners Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
15:00 UTC+10 Brosque 16', 26'
Popovic 32'		 Report
Summary		 Hutchinson 27', 56' Attendance: 17,652
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
4 November 2007 Central Coast Mariners 2–1 Melbourne Victory Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
17:00 UTC+11 Petrovski 83', Yellow card 73' Yellow-red card 90'
Pondeljak 88'		 Report
Summary		 Keenan Red card 22'
Hernández 77'
Vargas Red card 90'		 Attendance: 11,354
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
10 November 2007 Central Coast Mariners 2–0 Adelaide United Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
17:00 UTC+11 J.Aloisi 48' (pen.), 59' Report
Summary		 Attendance: 11,680
Referee: Australia Simon Przydacz
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
18 November 2007 Perth Glory 0–1 Central Coast Mariners Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Summary Owens 13'
Jedinak Yellow card 83' Yellow-red card 88'		 Attendance: 7,310
Referee: Australia Craig Zetter
Queensland Roar v Central Coast Mariners
9 December 2007 Queensland Roar 2–1 Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
18:00 UTC+10 Vidmar 21' (o.g.)
McKay 28'		 Report
Summary		 J.Aloisi 13' Attendance: 16,442
Referee: Australia Ben Williams
Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
14 December 2007 Adelaide United 1–2 Central Coast Mariners Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
19:30 UTC+10:30 Agostino 70' Report
Summary		 J.Aloisi 24'
Petrovski 48'		 Attendance: 11,123
Referee: Australia Peter Green
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
22 December 2007[14] Central Coast Mariners 4–5 Sydney FC Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC+11 Jedinak 3'
J.Aloisi 16'
Vukovic Red card 17'
Owens 63' (pen.)
Kwasnik 86' Red card 90+4'		 Report
Summary		 Fyfe 33'
McFlynn 50'
Biddle 71'
Santalab 76'
Talay 90+5' (pen.)		 Attendance: 17,514
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
31 December 2007 Central Coast Mariners 2–5 Melbourne Victory Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
18:00 UTC+11 Jedinak 32'
J.Aloisi 63'		 Report
Summary		 Caceres 4'
Allsopp 23', 61'
Thompson 36'
Muscat 43' (pen.)		 Attendance: 18,686
Referee: Australia Mark Shield
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
6 January 2008 Perth Glory 1–1 Central Coast Mariners Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9 Rukavytsya 69' Report
Summary		 Hutchinson 38' Attendance: 6,727
Referee: Australia Strebre Delovski
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
12 January 2008 Central Coast Mariners 1–2 Newcastle Jets Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC+11 Kwasnik 9' Report
Summary		 Holland 6'
J. Griffiths 52'		 Attendance: 19,238
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
19 January 2008 Central Coast Mariners 2–0 Wellington Phoenix Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC+11 Aloisi 52'
Kwasnik 90+4'		 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 9,849
Referee: Australia Kevin Docherty

2007–08 Finals series

Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
27 January 2008 Major SF Leg 1 Newcastle Jets 2–0 Central Coast Mariners EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
18:00 UTC+11 A. Griffiths 22'
J. Griffiths 85' (pen.)		 Report
Summary		 Attendance: 22,960
Referee: Australia Matthew Breeze
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
10 February 2008 Major SF Leg 2 Central Coast Mariners 3 – 0 (a.e.t.) Newcastle Jets Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
18:00 UTC+11 Kwasnik 37'
Petrovski 74', 95'		 Summary Attendance: 19,112
Referee: Australia Ben Williams
Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets
24 February 2008 Grand Final Central Coast Mariners 0–1 Newcastle Jets Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
17:00 UTC+11 Vukovic Red card 90+5' Summary Bridge 64' Attendance: 36,354
Referee: Australia Mark Shield

Home-and-Away Season

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Central Coast Mariners 21 10 4 7 30 25 +5 34 Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series[a]
2 Newcastle Jets (C) 21 9 7 5 25 21 +4 34
3 Sydney FC 21 8 8 5 28 24 +4 32 Qualification for 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and Finals series
4 Queensland Roar 21 8 7 6 25 21 +4 31 Qualification for Finals series
5 Melbourne Victory 21 6 9 6 29 29 0 27
6 Adelaide United 21 6 8 7 31 29 +2 26
7 Perth Glory 21 4 8 9 27 34 −7 20
8 Wellington Phoenix[b] 21 5 5 11 25 37 −12 20
Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage.
    Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
  2. ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

Player statistics

Key

No. = Squad number

Pos = Playing position

Nat. = Nationality

Apps = Appearances

GK = Goalkeeper

DF = Defender

MF = Midfielder

FW = Forward

= Yellow cards

= Red cards

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with number struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.

No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League A-League finals Pre-Season Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangular card A red rectangular card
1 GK  AUS Matthew Trott 4 (1) 0 0 0 2 0 6 (1) 0 0 0
2 FW  AUS Matt Simon 4 (14) 0 0 (2) 0 1 1 5 (16) 1 0 0
3 DF  AUS Paul O'Grady 2 (4) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 2 (5) 0 2 0
4 MF  AUS Ian McAndrew 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
5 MF  AUS Brad Porter 5 (3) 0 0 0 0 (4) 0 5 (7) 0 0 1
6 MF  GER André Gumprecht 8 (6) 0 0 (3) 0 5 1 13 (9) 1 3 0
7 MF  AUS John Hutchinson 18 3 3 0 4 0 25 3 7 0
8 DF  AUS Dean Heffernan 15 (1) 1 0 0 2 (1) 0 17 (2) 1 7 0
9 FW  AUS Nik Mrdja 3 2 0 0 3 (2) 1 6 (2) 3 1 0
10 MF  AUS Tom Pondeljak 13 (5) 2 2 (1) 0 2 (2) 0 17 (8) 2 0 0
11 DF  AUS Damien Brown 7 (1) 0 0 0 3 0 10 (1) 0 2 0
12 MF  AUS Greg Owens 10 (2) 2 1 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 11 (4) 2 2 0
13 DF  AUS Tony Vidmar 15 0 3 0 1 (2) 0 19 (2) 0 6 2
15 DF  AUS Andrew Clark 12 (5) 0 0 (2) 0 1 0 13 (7) 0 5 0
16 DF  AUS Nigel Boogaard 13 (1) 0 3 0 4 (1) 1 20 (2) 1 5 0
17 MF  AUS Matthew Osman 6 (1) 0 0 0 5 1 11 (1) 1 0 0
18 DF  AUS Alex Wilkinson 12 0 3 0 5 1 20 1 1 0
19 FW  AUS Adam Kwasnik 12 (7) 5 3 1 5 2 20 (7) 8 2 0
20 GK  AUS Danny Vukovic 17 0 3 0 3 0 23 0 1 2
22 FW  AUS Sasho Petrovski 18 (1) 6 3 2 4 1 25 (1) 9 11 1
23 MF  AUS Mile Jedinak 19 2 3 0 5 0 27 2 8 1
24 FW  AUS Damian Mori † 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
25 DF  AUS John Aloisi 12 7 3 0 0 0 15 7 4 0
26 DF  AUS Alvin Ceccoli 3 0 3 0 0 0 6 0 0 0
30 GK  AUS Andrew Redmayne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ "Petrovski signs with Mariners". News.com.au. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Jedi signs permanent deal for 2007–08" (Press release). Central Coast Mariners FC. 26 February 2007.
  3. ^ "Mariners snap up Owens". The World Game. 12 March 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Heffernan returns to the Central Coast". ESPN FC. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Out with the old, in with the new" (Press release). Central Coast Mariners FC. 19 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Mariners sign teenage defender". Fox Sports. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  7. ^ Smithies, Tom (21 September 2007). "Mariners land old boy Mori". Fox Sports. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  8. ^ Henderson, Philip (19 October 2007). "Mariners confirm signing John Aloisi". ESPN FC. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Ceccoli back as 'ancient mariner'". Fox Sports. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Mariners axe A-League skipper Spencer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  11. ^ Cockerill, Mike (16 February 2007). "Mariner finds his way to Sydney for the Asian experience". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  12. ^ a b "New deals for Mariners duo". The World Game. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Pacesetters Central Coast Mariners are "down to the bare bones"". The Daily Telegraph. 13 October 2007.
  14. ^ Match postponed due to heavy rain affecting pitch conditions.

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