Can Mariners salvage their season?

Ten goals against in two games.

It's not Championship material is it?

And I feel for the Mariners, they've worked hard to set the pace, got massive crowds to the last two games against Sydney and Melbourne, lose a great game to Sydney and get thrashed by Melbourne.



Who despite having Nicky Ward, the White Fred, have been decidely poor all season.

And they were poor last night. Just the Mariners were worse, so much worse.

Tony Vidmar, Damien Brown, and Alex Wilkinson all stood out. Pass-backs, tackles and marking were abysmal and the Victory who caused the Coast massive problems in their last came in Gosford, did the same again.

This time Nicky Ward released his forwards time and time again and the Victory look a different side at least away from home.

The Mariners could still come second or even third. Is there no justice in football?

But this game could have been 5-8. Victory missed sitter after sitter just after half-time and Aloisi and the entertaining and crowd favourite Matt Simon did likewise. If only Simon could score, what a player he could be.

Victory were gone at the 65 minute mark. Maybe that is why they have struggled all year. But last night they were too far ahead, even by their increasingly poor defensive standards.

A fantastic crowd for Gosford 18,500, a fantastic crowd for football. Mile Jedinak's strike got me out of my seat. Archie Thompson was ebullient. Tony Vidmar? One season too many?

And Matthew Trott the Mariners keeper? 160 minutes of football and 10 goals conceded.

My mate said he couldn't be blamed for this one, or that one, but at some point he has to save something.

If he could have saved one or even two in this game, bizarrely the Mariners could have salvaged something.

All to play for still. Danny Vukovic is back. Confidence will surely rise, and a nice visit to Wellington may help.

The Roar play Melbourne next and then Sydney. Watch those Brisbane fans pour into SunCorp now.

Victory is in sight!