A first goal of the season from substitute Ryan Edmondson inspired the Central Coast to victory over Western Sydney as the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions defeated the Wanderers 3-1 at CommBank Stadium.
A bright start from the Mariners was rewarded in the 14th minute when Alou Kuol guided a left-footed effort past Lawrence Thomas to make it 1-0.
The Wanderers had chances to level things up including a Brandon Borrello shot which was cleared off the line however Central Coast doubled their lead in the second half through substitute Ryan Edmondson’s guided header.
World Cup winner Juan Mata the assisted James Temelkovski for his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal in the 85th minute to set-up a grandstand finish.
Some incredible last-ditch defending from both Harrison Steele and then Brian Kaltak prevented what would have been certain goals before the Mariners then sealed the win through a late counter-attack.
Surging clear from a Wanderers corner, Doka showed Aidan Simmons a clean set of heels before rounding Lawrence Thomas to tap into an empty net.
The win moves the Mariners to within four points of the top six while defeat leaves Western Sydney 8th on the ladder.
A loose pass across the face of his own box from Wanderers defender Anthony Pantazopoulos fell straight to Mikael Doka but the Brazilian’s shot from the edge of the area was well-blocked.
In a blow for head coach Mark Jackson, the Mariners were forced into a change after just 10 minutes with central midfielder Alfie McCalmont injuring his knee and subsequently replaced by 16-year-old Haine Eames.
Despite that blow the away side took the lead in the 14th minute though as striker Kuol bagged his third goal of the campaign.
Controlling a fizzing pass into the box, the forward wrapped his left foot around the ball and sent a low shot beyond Wanderers keeper Thomas and into the far corner.
The Wanderers tested Mariners keeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen for the first time in the 22nd minute when Marcus Antonsson drilled a powerful shot towards goal which was well saved by the young shot-stopper.
Borrello then went even closer in the 25th minute but the Socceroos striker’s dinked effort was cleared off the line.
Kuol was then denied a second on the approach to half-time after his shot was well-saved by Thomas before the away side then squandered a great opportunity in first-half stoppage time.
A flick-on from Kuol saw the Mariners have a two-on-one in their favour but Arthur De Lima couldn’t convert one played in by Mikael Doka, instead lifting his shot over the bar in a let-off for the home side.
The Mariners continued their dominance into the second half and were inches away from doubling their lead; Christian Theoharous drilling a low shot inches wide of the far post after the ball broke inside the box.
Fresh off coming into the game, substitute Edmondson then made an immediate impact as he doubled the Mariners lead with a close-range header.
After a Trent Sainsbury effort was cleared off the line, the Mariners reacted quickest to the loose ball and Edmondson was in the perfect place to nod home Doka’s perfect cross.
Subbed on in the 72nd minute, a moment of quality from Mata dragged the Wanderers back into the game as the Spaniard’s curling cross was headed beyond Peraic-Cullen by Temelkovski as he registered his first goal in the A-Leagues.
A lightning break from a Mariners corner saw the Wanderers bearing down on goal but Borrello ultimately had another effort cleared off the line thanks to some stunning last-ditch defending from Harry Steele.
Sapsford was then denied by some more brilliant defending, this time by Kaltak, as the Mariners were clinging on with everything they had to keep their lead intact while defender Pantazopoulos then saw a shot deflected narrowly wide.
Despite the enormous pressure being applied by the hosts though the Mariners eventually wrapped up the win as the brilliant Doka streaked clear following a Wanderers corner before slotting the ball beyond Thomas to seal a 3-1 win.
