Sydney FC have continued their pre-season billing with a clash against the Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval on Wednesday morning.
Ufuk Talay gave starting debuts to Victor Campuzano, Piero Quispe & Marcel Tisserand and in testing conditions both sides traded blows at each end in the opening 15 minutes.
Joe Lolley had the best chance in that period when he cut inside on his left and curled a chance wide of the far post.
After Abel Walatee tried to catch Redmayne at his near post with a shot/cross, the visitors would take the lead with their first shot on target after the ball fell loose on the edge of the box from a mis-placed pass and Edmondson slotted past Devenish-Meares who played his first minutes since rupturing his ankle ligaments.
New striker Victor Campuzano had an effort on target denied by Redmayne on the edge and Piero Quispe almost opened his account after he controlled a high ball inside the area however his attempt to place into the bottom corner trickled wide of the frame of the goal.
In the second half after making five changes the Sky Blues took the ascendancy of the contest and Joe Lolley almost scored a sweet volley but unfortunately it went above the crossbar.
On the breakaway, a big chance went begging as Lolley, Wood & Macallister surged forward with only one Mariners defender, however the ball wouldn’t settle for the trio and Peraic-Cullen was able to come out and smother the ball.
Moments later, a great sweeping move from right to left saw Joel King arrive late at the back post from a Joe Lolley cross however his cut back didn’t find the mark and the Mariners survived the scare.
Joe Lolley was hungry for a goal and almost found the equaliser with a right footed strike from distance but it floated inches wide of the target.
The Englishman almost found the top corner from a set piece after Joe Lacey was brought down outside the area however Peraic-Cullen batted away his strike on target with the Sky Blues pushing on for the equaliser.
The hosts came home with a wet sail with a flurry of half chances falling to Corey Hollman & Akol Akon however the Mariners held on to secure the victory.
These sides will meet again during the first home game of the season at the same venue on the 25th of October.
Starting XI: 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 5. Alex GRANT, 6. Corey HOLLMAN, 7. Piero QUISPE, 8. Wataru KAMIJO, 9. Victor CAMPUZANO, 10. Joe LOLLEY, 11. Abel WALATEE, 16. Joel KING, 23. Rhyan GRANT (C), 32. Marcel TISSERAND
Subs: 1. Gus HOEFSLOOT, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 13. Pat WOOD, 21. Zac DE JESUS, 22. Mathias MACALLISTER, 27. Lachlan MIDDLETON, 29. Joe LACEY, 34. Tyler WILLIAMS, 41. Alex POPOVIC, 44. Akol AKON
