Dan Heffernan stars as Mariners sink Wanderers

A hat-trick from trialist Dan Heffernan has helped Central Coast Mariners to an entertaining 3-2 friendly win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Coffs Harbour on Friday night.

The towering striker, from PS4 NPL club Alexander Heidelberg United, netted three times in the space of five second-half minutes to hand Tony Walmsley’s side a commanding advantage.

The Wanderers hit back with goals to Romeo Castelen and Josh Macdonald but the Mariners held on for a confidence boosting victory.

Both sides experimented with their lineups throughout the contest, with the Mariners using seven trialists while the Wanderers fielded a largely inexperienced outfit in the second stanza.  

The Mariners host Wellington Phoenix in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday night, while the Wanderers are also at home to Brisbane Roar.

Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Castelen 69’ & Macdonald 77’)

Central Coast Mariners 3 (Dan Heffernan 52’, 53 & 56’)

Central Coast Mariners

3.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN (3.Lachlan WALES (trialist), 71’), 9.Francesco STELLA (trialist) (8.Daniel McFARLANE (trialist) 72’), 12.Liam REDDY (GK), 15.Matt SIM, 16.Liam ROSE (7.Trent BUHARGIAR (trialist) 76’), 18.Glen TRIFIRO (23.Adam BERRY (trialist) 2’), 19.Dan HEFFERNAN (trialist), 20.Jake ADELSON (trialist), 22.Jake McGING (2.Storm ROUX 45’)

Substitutes not used: 1.Paul IZZO,10. Anthony CACERES, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 21.Mickey NEILL,

Western Sydney Wanderers

First Half Line-up: Andrew Redmayne (GK), Scott Jamieson, Brendan Hamill, Daniel Alessi, Scott Neville, Andreu, Jacob Pepper, Mitch Nichols, Jaushua Sotirio, Golgol Mebrahtu, Mark Bridge (C)

Second Half Line-up: Dean Bouzanis (GK), Alusine Fofanah, Cohan Morris, Lachlan Campbell, Jacob Pepper, Liam Youlley, Kearyn Baccus (C), Mario Shabow, Jaushua Sotirio (Romeo Castelen), Josh Macdonald, Jonathan Grozdanovski

Substitutes not used: 22. Jonathan Aspro