A rescheduled clash in Gosford ended with the Bulls sharing the points with the Central Coast Mariners on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon.
After torrential rain forced the match to be postponed from Saturday, conditions were still wet when the sides finally took to the pitch on Sunday. The Bulls came out firing, setting the tone early with an attacking approach.
Inside the opening 10 minutes, the Bulls created several promising chances, with Sime Grzan, Callum Talbot and Liam Rose all testing the Mariners’ defence. Despite the strong start, the visitors were unable to convert their early opportunities.
The pressure continued as the Bulls pushed for an opener, with Anthony Caceres also getting involved in the attacking play. However, neither side could find a breakthrough before half-time, heading into the sheds locked at nil-all.
The second half began at a slower pace for the Bulls, who chose to sit back and absorb the pressure. The tactical shift paid off, creating space to strike on the counter. Mitchell Duke made his first appearance in Bulls colours in the 62nd minute, coming on alongside Luke Vickery.
The pair made an immediate impact, with Duke going close to scoring on debut. Just five minutes later, the duo combined to finally break the deadlock, as Duke cleverly set up Vickery, who calmly finished to put the Bulls ahead.
The Mariners responded in the 77th minute, catching Filip Kurto and Matt Jurman off guard to level the scores. The Bulls continued to fight to secure the three points but ultimately the match ended in a 1 – 1 draw. With the Bulls walking away with a point.
