Best story in Aussie sport gets better after Matt Hatch’s dream debut

The Cinderella story of Australian sport just continues to get better.

Having won four of the last five A-League wooden spoons, the Central Coast Mariners now sit a remarkable seven points clear at the top of the table, nearing the halfway mark of the season, following a 2-0 home victory over the second placed Macarthur Bulls at Central Coast Stadium.

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It’s the Mariners’ eighth win of the season after just 11 games, having only managed eight victories in the previous two seasons combined.

It’s a strong contrast to the fall of former powerhouse club Melbourne Victory, who witnessed extraordinary scenes at their training on Monday as fans launched a revolt.

In an extra layer of magic to the Mariners’ story, the win was secured by debutant Matt Hatch’s first ever touch in the A-League as the local lad and former ball boy at the club cooly finished a pass laid on by Alou Kuol inside the area to secure three more points.

At just 25 seconds, it’s the fastest debut goal in Australian domestic football history.

Matt Hatch celebrates his goal. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

“He’s waited a long time for his debut. For that to be his first touch in the A-League, it’s just a magical moment for him and we’re really proud of him but it’s just a great moment for our whole club,” Mariners coach Alen Stajcic said.

The win was set up by the Mariners’ inspirational leader in Matt Simon after just eight minutes when he combined beautifully with Costa Rican Marcos Urena to find space inside the area and drive at goal from an angle.

A deflection off James Meredith looped the ball over Adam Federici in the Mariners goal for Simon’s fifth strike in just six games.

Matt Simon celebrates his goal with teammates. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Macarthur struggled to create enough opportunities but its best chance early in the second half was bravely blocked by Mariners keeper Mark Birighitti on his goal line with Matt Derbyshire looking certain to bundle it home.

“Playing against a quality team we knew it would be tough,” Stajic said. “We were dangerous in our build-up, in set pieces, in transition. I’m just really pleased for the boys. The amount of effort and heart that went into it, we really deserved the victory”.

TICKLED PINK

The Mariners have made the ‘Pink Round’ breast cancer fundraiser an annual event and there was a deeply personal touch this time around with Simone Rowles, the mother of Mariners defender Kye, who has been diagnosed with the disease providing an emotional moment when she was presented to the crowd before kick-off on International Woman’s Day as well.

MATILDAS MATCH-UP

It was a match-up in the coaches’ box once more between former Matildas head honchos Alen Stajcic and the man who replaced him in Ante Milicic.

For the second time this season, it was Stajcic who took the honours following the Mariners 2-0 victory in Campbelltown earlier this season.

COSTA RICAN CLASS

There were some reasonable wraps on Costa Rican import Marcos Urena when he signed on at Central Coast and they’re proving to be accurate.

Capped 67 times for his country and named in their 2014 and 2018 World Cup squads, he was instrumental for the Mariners in this one combining beautifully with Matt Simon for the opener.

They’re a happy bunch in Gosford again. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

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