The Coast hung on to defeat a tenacious Phoenix in Gosford tonight by racing to a 3 goal lead within 35 minutes. The visitors from 'across the ditch' threw everything at the home side in the second half but must now rue a visit to Bluetongue.
The Mariners were without captain Alex Wilkinson due to long term injury picked up late in the game in Sydney but what a replacement in central defence and captaincy - former Socceroos legend Tony Vidmar. Otherwise they were unchanged whereas the Phoenix were to find the loss of defender Steven Old hard to adjust to even with Karl Dodd and Michael Ferrante coming in.
With both teams comfortable being surrounded by the colour yellow, the game kicked off with an onshore breeze but balmy August conditions taht should have attracted a little more yellow in the stands that the 9,052 it did.
Saso Petrovski, looking to build on his tally early, had the ball into the Wellington net in the 5th minute nicely off a Matty Osman cross, however the ball was judged to have crossed the goal line before Osman's intervention.
Phoenix started well but then, with the Coast practically camped in the visitors Brisbane Water end of the ground, in the 8th minute a nice pacy run down left by new Socceroo squad member Dean Heffernan gave young defender Steven O'Dor (sent off here in the PSC) more nightmares. Heffernan slipped the ball in to unmarked striker Nik Mrdja and as three defenders closed on him he feinted once, then again, and making space he slotted the ball with precision past Glen Moss in the Wellington goal. 1-0
The visitors were desperate to reply and in the 12th minute Vaughan Coveny, as he does, got away free behind the defence that had pushed up however Matty Osman caught him with a clearing foot.
No joy for Wellington as one minute later Adam Kwasnik was picked out free on the left by Mile Jedinak in the middle of the park who, surrounded, swivelled to propel the ball. The often beleagured flankman finished superbly with the outside of his left foot across the face of goal and into the net. 2-0
Phoenix didn't seem to have an answer to this onslaught and struggled to get either Coveny or Daniel into the action up front.
In the 34th minute the Mariners pepper the goal, only to see it rebound or be cleared several times. It fell out to Osman who curled a lovely ball over the defence to the left side of the box where Kwasnik was quicker, knocked it down across the goal mouth with Moss stranded and Mrdja sprinted in to the opening and slammed it back past Moss and into the goal. 3-0
A stunning half of football from the Mariners and the visitors fast interchange football wasn't sighted.
After the break the Mariners continued to have its chances with Mrdja prominent but gradually possession swung Wellington's way and with the introduction of Felipe by Wellington coach Ricky Herbert in the 54th minute they also got penetration.
In the 65th minute a corner from the right by Felipe curled to a rising Ross Aloisi whose header was centimetres over the crossbar.
With the foot a little off the pedal Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna brought on his substitutes progressively but all failed to turn the run of play.
In the 83rd minute Felipe turned his defender and hit to crossbar, and the rebound was saved by Vukovic.
Three minutes later Shane Smeltz crossed to substitute Royce Brownlie but his shot was smothered by the Mariners Olyroo keeper Vukovic.
If the Mariners can extend their two weeks of '30 minutes of magic' then they will continue to lead the table, and Lawrie McKinna must be encouraged by the quality of the goals so far. They now take on an away series starting with their bogey team Queensland Roar at Suncorp on Thursday night, and Melbourne Victory at Docklands where they will want revenge for the 3-3 debacle of last season.
Ricky Herbert has a lot to work with, even if he has a lot of work to do, and should be able to bring down the out of sorts Jets at The Cake Tin in Wellington next week. With Vince Lia and Steven Old back in and Felipe deserving a start he needs to get the defence nailed down and build from the back.