THE Western NSW Mariners FC are still hunting for their first points of the National Premier Leagues 2 season, but striker Jasmin Courtenay is confident they will come soon.
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Promoted to the NPL 2 competition this year, the Mariners know they must lift their standard in order to be competitive.
In week one the Mariners went down 1-0 to another promoted club in University of NSW, while on Sunday in Lithgow, the Western outfit went down 2-1 to Gladesville Ravens.
Gladesville is currently in its second season at NPL2 level.
Courtenay feels her Mariners were unlucky not to win in both those games and knows more match time will see her team-mates improve. She thinks they can be competitive in the new league.
“I think both games have been even, they could have been anyone's for the taking. On both occasions it has been the other team that has taken it, so we’ve got some things to work on,” she said.
“We only had three trial games, so we are still trying to figure out how each new person is playing, figuring out our patterns. But we can see some progress with what we have been working on at training, so that’s good.
“Hopefully this weekend we can pick things up and get some points on the board.”
Hosting the Ravens at Majorie Jackson Field, Courtenay gave her side the lead in the first half when she converted from the spot.
The Mariners were awarded the penalty after Teegan Courtney was fouled in the box and Courtenay’s shot sailed into the top right corner of the net.
By half-time the Ravens were back on level terms after Annalise Schiraldi netted, with her team-mate Kirrily Moore then making it 2-1 after the break.
But as has been typical of Mariners performances in recent seasons, they lifted and continued to push for an equaliser until the final whistle.
They managed to create chances, but were unable to provide the final touches which would have given them their first points of the season.
“We should’ve won,” Courtenay said.
“We were still carrying a few injuries, but things just didn’t come off for us. We had plenty of shots, but same as last week, they just didn’t go in.
“We nearly got a goal to make it 2-all right at the end. Credit to the girls, they put in a lot of effort, we just needed that extra bit that we didn’t have left.
“I had a few late chances, Teegan had a few late ones as well – all of our strikers had chances, but they didn’t quite make them in.
“Finishing touches we need to work on, but their two centre backs were really strong and it was hard to get around them. We just need to work on getting support up the front and more girls in the box when the ball is coming so we have more bodies there to shoot.”
Both Courtney and Courtenay, as well as goalkeeper Jess Daymond, have previously played at NPL 1 level and as the season unfolds, their experience will no doubt help the younger members of the Mariners squad develop.
“I think any of the older girls have leadership responsibilities … but I think a lot of them do look to me for an example, me and Teegan. We are the voices on the pitch and that’s where you expect it to come from,” Courtenay said. “I just would rather lead by example with what I do on the pitch.”
