A virtuoso goalkeeping performance from former Socceroos shot stopper Andrew Redmayne has denied the Wellington Phoenix back-to-back wins in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The veteran goalkeeper has made a number of top class saves to earn the Central Coast Mariners a 1-1 draw with the Phoenix at polytec Stadium in Gosford.
Ifeanyi Eze put the Nix in front in the fourth minute but Wellington were unable to find the back of the net again because of Redmayne’s heroics.
The Mariners drew level seven minutes into the second half and held on to claim a share of the spoils.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano was disappointed to have not left Gosford with all three points.
“I felt as though we had enough chances to finish the game in the first half,” Italiano told media post-match.
“Second half we were very disjointed. Losing Hide (Hideki Ishige) and Fin Conch (Fin Roa Conchie), both 10s, killed our build-up and our press.
“We just couldn’t get into the groove and hurt Mariners like we did in the first half.
“I think it was a pretty poor goal we conceded as well. A bit frustrated to be fair.”
The Nix remain unbeaten three rounds into the new season and host competition leaders Auckland FC at Sky Stadium on Saturday in the first derby of the 2025-26 campaign.
“Irrespective of the result we need to go and be the home team and be on the front foot.
“We’re moving towards a more positive style. I feel as though the boys are taking on a lot of information about the style we’re trying to play.
“It takes a lot of bravery and it takes a lot of guts and this is the match where you’ll see whether or not we have the nerve to do it.
“I love playing against good teams like Auckland because we can also raise our level as well.”
Giancarlo Italiano made two changes to the XI which started last Sunday’s come-from-behind win over Brisbane Roar with defenders Isaac Hughes and Xuan Loke named in place of the injured Manjrekar James and Tim Payne respectively. Rookie professional Dan Edwards was promoted to the bench.
Mariners striker Ryan Edmondson had the ball in the back of the net inside the first minute, but it was rightly ruled out for offside. The hosts didn’t record a shot on goal for the remainder of the first half.
Just three minutes later Eze put the Phoenix in front. He tapped home from close-range after Redmayne parried Fin Roa Conchie’s shot to Eze’s feet. Xuan Loke created the goalscoring opportunity for Roa Conchie after getting in behind the Mariners’ defence and provided an inch-perfect cutback.
Hideki Ishige rattled the right-hand post in the ninth minute with a well-hit free-kick but unfortunately had to be replaced soon after when he suffered a serious-looking knee injury. Ishige was replaced by 19-year-old Anaru Cassidy, who didn’t look out of place in his A-League debut.
Redmayne made two sharp saves in the 20th and 26th minutes to keep out thunderous left-footed efforts from Carlo Armiento after Eze had blazed a shot over the bar from distance.
Eze had a couple more shots deflect off target and then steered a shot narrowly wide of the far post when he got on the end of a goal kick from Josh Oluwayemi in the 44th minute.
Oluwayemi was untroubled in the Wellington goal in the first half and played his sweeper ‘keeper role expertly when the Mariners threatened to get in behind.
He made his first save four minutes into the second half, getting down well to his left to keep out a long-range effort from Sebit Ngor.
Ngor drew Central Coast level three minutes later when a deflected shot from Lucas Mauragis fortuitously dropped to his feet and he slotted past Oluwayemi.
The Phoenix reclaimed their grip on the game after the Mariners’ equaliser and Redmayne denied them a couple of chances to restore the lead before the hour mark.
The veteran ‘keeper made a good save to parry away an effort from Luke Brooke-Smith, who was on as a halftime substitute, before producing a spectacular reflex save to keep out Armiento a third time.
Brooke-Smith got in behind the Central Coast defence in the 65th minute but the hosts were able to scramble back and snuff out the goalscoring opportunity.
Eze was denied by Redmayne three minutes later and then Brooke-Smith’s follow-up was well-blocked by some desperate Mariners’ defence.
There were few chances for either side for the remainder of the match and ultimately they could not be separated.
The Wellington Phoenix will return home on Monday before quickly turning their attentions to Auckland FC.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 46th), 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE (50. Anaru CASSIDY 18th (3. Corban PIPER 72nd)), 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matthew SHERIDAN.
Unused substitutes: 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk), 12. Dan EDWARDS, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 39. Jayden SMITH.
Central Coast Mariners: 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 3. Nathan PAULL (c), 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 8. Alfie McCALMONT, 9. Ryan EDMONDSON, 10. Miguel DI PIZIO (22. Arthur DE LIMA 76th), 11. Sebit NGOR (7. Christian THEOHAROUS 84th), 14. Nicholas DUARTE (37. Bailey BRANDTMAN 62nd), 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harrison STEELE, 26. Bradley TAPP.
Unused substitutes: 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN (gk), 21. Abdelelah FAISAL, 27. Alexi HOURIDIS, 41. Shumba MUTOKOYI.
Goals:
7. Ifeanyi EZE (Wellington Phoenix) – 4th
11. Sebit NGOR (Central Coast Mariners) – 52nd
Cards:
16. Harrison STEELE (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 75th
