Roar Bounce Back To End Mariners Run

Broich and McBreen compete for the ball

Reigning champions, Brisbane Roar, have bounced back after last week's disappointing home loss to the struggling Newcastle Jets with an emphatic victory of runaway league leaders Central Coast Mariners.

Roar struggled to capitalise on its typical wealth of possession last weekend in a match where they clearly missed the league's leading goal scorer Besart Berisha.  Historically the Roar have tended to struggle against Newcastle, particularly at Suncorp Stadium. This match was no different and after troubling the Jets without making a real strike the Roar conceded in the first half and then struggled to chase down the lead.  The situation wasn't helped by two poor offside calls against Henrique, the worst of which came after he had rounded the keeper and was about to finish into an empty net for the equaliser.

But Berisha was back on deck for the trip to Gosford and if history didn't bode well for the Roar in terms of Newcastle games it certainly looked good for the match against the Mariners.  The Roar have an unseemingly good record at Bluetoungue and yesterday proved a continuance of that record.

Ange Postecoglou kept young forward Nick Fitzgerald in the starting line up and team him up with the returning Berisha and Henrique.  Both sides were without key players due to Olyroos duty and this was perhaps telling with the Mariners without their keeper Matt Ryan.  Unlike so many games in the Roar's recent run where they have gone behind and had to chase the game against a deep defence, the Roar grabbed an early lead with Erik Paartalu stroking home a goal from a Fitzgerald cut back.  Roar almost extended their lead when a wickedly swerving shot from Thomas Broich cannoned off the post but despite being denied on that occasion Berisha gave the Roar a second later on with a good finish from the edge of the box.  Having been slightly off their game in the first half the Mariners lifted in the second and gave Roar a real run for their money.  But the Brisbane boys were good for their lead and held on to record a vital 2:0 win.

The win now sees Brisbane move to within eight points of the Mariners but more importantly it sees their stay in touch with Wellington who recorded a win over Adelaide the night before.  Brisbane will head to NZ next weekend for a showdown with the high flying Phoenix in a contest that will play a big part in deciding who finishes second on the ladder.

In another bizarre circumstance Berisha was once more involved in a post match clash, but this time it was just an argument with his team mate James Meyer.  It looks like tensions are riding a bit high in the camp at the moment.  Its not a bad thing, but the lads do need to ensure that things don't go too far.