The Central Coast Mariners clinched A-League Men Premiers’ Plate last night with a 2-0 win over Adelaide, denying the Wellington Phoenix their first silverware.
Coach Mark Jackson, who had big shoes to fill when he replaced Nick Montgomery on the eve of the A-League Men season, was beaming with pride after goals from Jacob Farrell and Max Balard secured a first-place finish for the Mariners on Wednesday.
It is the first time in 12 years - Graham Arnold was in charge of the club then - that the Central Coast have finished a regular season top of the table.
But Jackson isn’t satisfied yet.
Less than 12 hours after their rain-soaked win over the Reds at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford, the Mariners will be on a plane to Oman for their AFC Cup final against Lebanese side Al Ahed (Sunday 4am).