Central Coasts gamble on rookie A-League coach Paul Okon is already paying off according to Connor Pain who credits his Young Socceroos mentor for his strong club debut in the opening round.Pain claimed man-of-the-match honours in the Mariners historic 3-3 comeback draw against Perth after wreaking plenty of havoc down his teams left edge.And the 22-year-old attributed most of his work to last months sensational appointment of Okon, who mentored Pain during his time looking after the Young Socceroos.Okon was rushed into the role in early August following the dumping of Tony Walmsley.Ive been under him for two to three years now. It was pretty good to see him coming here. We knew what we were going to get, Pain told reporters on Tuesday.The way were trying to play, the wingers stay high and wide and make those runs in behind. I like doing my running in behind the defenders, so the way were trying to play suits me to a T.Pains arrival at Gosford comes after four seasons at the Melbourne Victory, where he started just seven of their 27 games last campaign.Ahead of Saturdays crunch match against Sydney FC at Moore Park, he admitted moving to the Central Coast in search of more playing time.Ive come here to try play a lot more games and try and do a lot more for the team, he said.The second half I think contributed to helping us get that scoreline reversed. I was pretty happy with my performance.Pencilled in as wooden spoon contenders in the pre-season, Pain said he was also thrilled with the way the Mariners stuck it to their critics in their first game of the season.(Okon) came in after the game and was really happy with the way we fought. Its the way we are up here, fighting spirit has been drilled into us, he said.To do it in the first round to prove doubters wrong is a good first step. 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Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. IOWA CITY, Iowa -- No. 17 Iowas backfield tandem of Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels looked spectacular in its opener.The same couldnt be said for the Hawkeyes defense, which looked lost at times against a Mid-American opponent that won just three games last season.Wadley ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns, Daniels added 83 yards rushing and two scores, and Iowa beat Miami (Ohio) 45-21 on Saturday.The speedy Wadley and the more powerful Daniels did their damage on just 22 carries, a promising sign for a program that prefers to set the tone offensively on the ground.With LeShun splitting the carries and that line were running behind, it makes it so much easier. You could probably run through that, with the line weve got. Wadley said, joking with a reporter.Senior C.J. Beathard was 13 of 20 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes (1-0), whose sloppy defensive play in the second half let Miami hang around.Iowa played much of the game without star linebacker Josey Jewell, who was ejected early in the first quarter for targeting. Jewell nailed Matt Merimee with a viscous helmet to helmet hit.Daniels and Wadley each scored twice in the first half, and Jerminic Smiths 12-yard TD reception put the Hawkeyes ahead 35-7 early in the third quarter.The RedHawks (0-1) had touchdown drives of 75 and 74 yards with the game seemingly in hand before Derrick Mitchell Jr.s touchdown run with 3:08 left put Iowa ahead by 24.Our run defense was not what it needs to be (Saturday), Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Miami, which ran for 158 yards. When people can move the ball on the ground, it can be a little bit demoralizing.Billy Bahl threw for 266 yards and two TDs for Miami, which outgained Iowa 424-404.THE TAKEAWAYIowa: The Hawkeyes defense gave up a ton of yards without star linebacker Josey Jewell, who was ejected early in the first quarter for targeting. The Hawkeyes forced and recovered two fumbles though.Miami: Bahl had a strong day against one of the Big Tens better secondaries. The RedHawks will need more days like that from him as they look to work back into contention in the Mid-American after just five wins in two years. But Miamis defense, as exppected, was pushed around by the more physical Hawkeyes.dddddddddddd Iowa averaged eight yards a play.POLL IMPLICATIONSIowas ranking wont likely move much. The Hawkeyes looked like a team ranked No. 17, with flashes of brilliant play on offense and plenty of questions to be answered on defense.NOTABLESIowa: The Hawkeyes decision to use Desmond King, the 2015 Thorpe Award winner as the nations top defensive back, on punt returns paid off in the opener. King had 85 yards on three returns -despite having a long run off a punt called back because of the penalty that saw Jewell get booted. ... Iowa turned to true freshman quarterback Nathan Stanley in garbage time, burning a possible redshirt season. Its likely a sign that the Hawkeyes coaching staff, which has veered from its traditional ways in the past 18 months, has high hopes for Stanley.Miami: Maurice Thomas ran for 60 yards on just nine carries and Alonzo Smith had 58 yards. ...The RedHawks held the ball for nearly 37 minutes, wearing out Iowas defense in the process. ... Miami converted on both of its fourth-down tries and was a respectable 5 of 11 on third downs.LAST WORDI wasnt consciously doing it. I mean, it just never really presented itself. We were really good on first and second down, so we really werent put in many third and long situations, said Beathard when asked why he didnt run the ball much Saturday. The Hawkeyes have worked with Beathard, a talented rusher from the pocket, on sliding to avoid the injuries that hampered him after big hits in 2015.UP NEXTIowa: The Hawkeyes get their first Power Five test of the season when rival Iowa State visits Kinnick Stadium next Saturday. The Cyclones have a new coach, Matt Campbell, and an offensive line decimated by injuries and departures. But Iowa State usually plays Iowa tough. The Hawkeyes needed two late TDs to beat the Cyclones 31-17 last year in Ames.Miami: The RedHawks open a two-game home stand when it hosts Eastern Illinois. The Panthers, of the FCS, opened with a 38-21 loss to Western Illinois on Thursday. ' ' '