A stunning long-range strike from Central Coast Mariners midfielder Noel Spencer has earned his team its first win on the opening night of the Hyundai A-League, consigning Perth Glory and manager Steve McMahon to a disheartening 1-0 defeat in front of their home fans.
In an otherwise disjointed match that produced plenty of chances but little cutting edge from either strikeforce, Spencer's 30-metre piledriver proved the difference and provided Lawrie McKinna's side their second single-goal victory over the West Australians in a week, following their win in the Pre-Season Cup final last weekend.
"It was a great, overall, team performance, everybody did their part tonight," McKinna enthused.
"It could have been two or three nil and needless to say we're pleased to be coming home with three points."
With new signing Brian Deane beginning his first match in Australia following his move to Perth from England, more than 11,000 Glory fans turned up hoping to see a new era begin as the last ended for the last NSL champions.
But it was former Glory stars Tom Pondeljak and Andre Gumprecht, now plying their trade on the other side of the country for the Mariners, who took up where they left off, dominating the midfield and at times carving the Glory defence to pieces.
With the players taking their time to find their feet in the first half, Glory favourite Bobby Despotovski should really have put his name on the scoresheet within 20 minutes, stabbing a clear chance wide from less then two metres after a header from Deane found him in space on the far post.
But as the Mariners' backline began to come to terms with Deane's muscular presence, the visitors also began to come into their own as an attacking force, with Stewart Petrie's diving header from a Gumprecht cross showing their intent.
Glory goalkeeper Jason Petkovic showed his worth with a great save from Matthew Osman midway through the first half, but the 32-year-old was fortunate to get away with a blunder at his near post when he punched the ball into his own net. However referee Ben Williams ruled Petkovic was impeded and the goal was turned away.
However, Petkovic was helpless on 65 minutes when Spencer controlled a throw-in and then rifled a right foot shot into the opposite top corner, a goal that will find its way onto the end-of-season highlight reel despite being scored so early in the life of the Australia's newest football competition.