Soccer: A-League's top three set the pace

Matt Simon gave the Mariners their 43rd minute lead over Gold Coast. Photo / Getty Images

The gap between the Hyundai A-League's top three teams and the rest continues to widen.

Another hectic 10-match schedule starting with three matches tomorrow until next Wednesday threatens to further dampen the play-off hopes of teams, including the Wellington Phoenix, outside the top six.

Brisbane Roar, despite being held 1-1 at home by bottom-placed North Queensland Fury in the third of the week 15 fixtures, retain a three-point lead over Adelaide United with Gold Coast United also still right in the minor premiership mix.

In a round in which none of the home teams led at halftime, the Roar did it the hard way after falling behind to a Gareth Edds goal inside five minutes at Suncorp Stadium. Despite dominating the shot and possession count, the home side did not grab the equaliser until the 86th minute when Ivan Franjic scored.

It was a different story for Adelaide on their trip to Melbourne's AAMI Park. Out-muscled by the Heart and enjoying just 42 per cent of possession, Adelaide still managed to go ahead with an early Robbie Cornthwaite goal and make certain of the points when Marcos Flores added a second 17 minutes from time.

Gold Coast United stormed home to win the battle of the coast, beating Central Coast Mariners 3-2 in Gosford.

Matt Simon gave the Mariners their 43rd minute lead. Gold Coast hit back quickly with Dino Djulbic equalising in stoppage time before the break.

Stan Pantelidis gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the 70th minute but within two minutes Central Coast's Adam Kwasnik scored. The goals kept coming with substitute Andrew Barsic snatching the winner two minutes later, just two minutes after entering the fray.

That match at Bluetongue Stadium produced 33 scoring efforts - with 18 on target.

In stark contrast, the Newcastle Jets' 1-0 win over the Wellington Phoenix had just 11 scoring attempts with only five threatening the target.

Sydney FC dragged themselves off the bottom of the table with two late goals getting them home 2-0 over Perth Glory in front of a modest crowd of 6654 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Shannon Cole (75 minutes) and Alex Brosque (81) earned Sydney their third win of the season. It was a disaster all around for Perth who had Brent Griffiths sent off in the last minute.

Glory meet table-topping Brisbane away in the last of tomorrow's three games and then travel up the coast to play North Queensland on Sunday.

The Phoenix meet Melbourne Heart tomorrow at home, followed three days later with the always tough battle with Melbourne Victory.