However, a second-half collapse against Camden Tigers in National Premier Leagues 3 has seen the Mariners slump to a 4-1 loss, keeping the team winless and in second last position.

Jaiden Culbert opened the scoring for the Mariners – his second goal of the season – in the first half but Jackson Fuda went sent off in the same half. 

It was going to be a difficult job to get the win but with a 1-nil lead at half-time, Mariners would’ve been feeling confident they could hold on.

But playing on the brand new field at Proctor Park, Tigers came out the better team in the second half and patiently came from behind to claim victory.

The loss keeps Mariners winless after 15 games, with five draws to their name.

Only defending champions Fraser Park have a worse record than Mariners, with three draws and 12 losses from 15 games.

Even after the defeat, Mariners coach Andrew Fearnley remained upbeat.

“I thought our first half was good and we were in the wars down to 10 men twice with injuries,” he said.

“We fought through that and defended well and got a good goal and we had a few more chances to get more than one at half-time.

“The second half just let us down, especially with the delivering of the ball into the box and defending set pieces.

“We weren’t outplayed in that aspect, we just didn’t deal with the ball as best as we should have.

“We had a couple of chances at 1-1 to go ahead but Camden took their chance and then we were chasing the game.”

Fearnley knows his side will have to work on defending set pieces and crosses at training during the week.

“We’ll have to address that. All the goals were a delivery of the ball and us defending that,” he said.

“We didn’t defend as well as we should of so that’s something we’ll have to look at and address before next week.”

Regardless of the loss, it was also a special night at Proctor Park, as the Mariners played on the brand new field for the first time.

It’s something that many of the Mariners boys would’ve been craving.

Fearnley said it was good to come back to Bathurst after quite a few road trips.

“We’ve played most of away games in the first part of the season, in Orange and Mudgee,” he said.

“It’s good to be at Proctor and it’s certainly good to be on the new fields. 

“It played well, looks good, so certainly that was exciting for us to be on the field.”

Fearnley praised the effort of youngster Ryan Campbell who come on early as a substitute played just his fourth game of the season.

Mariners will return to the field this Saturday, when they host Granville Rage at Glen Willow in Mudgee.

With Granville in 11^th position, two up from Mariners, the game presents itself as the perfect opportunity for the club to break its winless duck.