Canberra United resume their Foxtel Y-League campaign this weekend after an extended break when they take on the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Saturday morning.
United haven’t played since the 22nd December having had three weeks off before that game, but Head Coach Dean Ugrinic said that while the break duration was frustrating the side is raring to go for Saturday.
“The energy levels are maxed out, training has been mind boggling and they’re jumping out of their skin to play.”
“It’s so unfortunate the way we had a big break before the Wanderers game and then another three weeks without a game, but the enthusiasm and training in general has been extraordinary.
The Mariners come into this match off the back of a surprise 3-0 win against Sydney FC and will be up and about for this meeting as well.
United’s sole win in the Foxtel Y-League last season came in this same fixture and captain Antoni Timotheou said earlier in the week that the players had taken confidence from that and were looking forward to the contest.
United lead for much of the game when these teams met in round two before conceding a couple of late goals to lose and Ugrinic admitted the side was a little bit more pumped knowing how close they had come.
“We feel as though we’re on a very similar level to the likes of the Mariners and Newcastle this season,” he said.
“We’ll prepare very similarly for this as we did for the Newcastle game, the environment that the Mariners play in is similar to ours and it seems as though the boys feel confident that they are going to perform well.
James Fletcher will miss this game and the rest of the season as he prepares to move to the United States to take up a scholarship opportunity, but Ugrinic will have a largely full strength squad to pick from otherwise.
Match Details |
Foxtel Y-League round nine
Central Coast Mariners v Canberra United
Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence, Gosford
Saturday, 12th January, 10:30am
#CCMvCBR on Twitter
