The closeness of Season 3 of the Hyundai A-League was underlined at bay-side Bluetounge Stadium in Gosford tonight as the table topping Mariners struggled to overcome a tenacious Perth Glory, grabbing a single goal by Saso Petrovski late to take all points.
Running now to 12 HAL games without a win obviously is weighing on the minds of the team from the west as they pinned the hosts back into their own half of the field for much of the first half of the game.
Both teams had a makeshift appearance with many changes from the Glory team victorious here in the PreSeason Cup, and the Mariners with both captains Tony Vidmar and Alex Wilkinson out, John Hutchinson filling in on the night, and Damian Mori on short term loan in lieu of Nik Mrdja (oddly both former Glory players).
It took the Coast nearly 20 mins to get a chance with a Kwasnik volley of a corner but it was blocked.
Glory had come out fast and aggressively with Jamie Harnwell up front testing out young Nigel Boogaard, and Perth getting men foward.
The best chance for the Coast came with a 21st minute when Saso Petrovski, twisting and turning, passed to their new short term signing Damian Mori but the veteran poacher had his shot deflected.
Although Perth had arguably more possession it was the home side that created chances in the first half but none gave any reward.
After the break Saso Petrovski shot on target in the 49th minute, but Glory 'keeper Tom Tomich touched it wide of the goal - the former Sydney marksman made a strong run off a Damien Brown pass and saw his shot go just wide of the right upright.
With Jamie Coyne shackling Mori and Nigel Boogard doing a similar job on Harnwell at the other end it looked like the 12th draw of the 5 round old HAL was coming up.
James Robinson had a great chance for Perth in the 68th though when his header off a cross from the right cannoned off the crossbar.
One minute later a volley from Petrovski was touched over the bar.
Both coaches changed the mix mid half, bringing on players to turn the game but it was Mariners Andre Gumprecht's insertion that was telling. From a free kick Petrovksi picked out his early run on the right, and Gumprecht returned the ball perfectly to meet Petrovski's own run. It was a seemingly easy knock in to score past the otherwise solid Tomich.
1-0
Perth had two late chances, but it was the the Mariners who reaped the rewards from the game, and gave themselves a 4 point buffer from Newcastle and a 3 win buffer over 5th place (after only 5 games).
Perth's coach Ron Smith was positive about the endeavour his charges had applied but he must be desparing ahead of the trip over the ditch to Wellington this week, as Glory has now not won going back into 2006.
Lawrie McKinna, the Mariners coach, by contrast looked relaxed, and so he should with their buffer zone against late season hiccups getting bigger. If they can get past the tough trip to Hindmarsh Stadium next weekend, then they have it in their hands to knock the Jets off their trajectory the week after at Gosford - big game, big crowd it is hoped (the only disappointing thing so far has been the rise in members has not been matched by walk ups)