Football: McGlinchey's return to Gosford pays off for Nix

Michael McGlinchey in action in Gosford. Photo / Getty Images

It took the Wellington Phoenix 10 weeks to get their first win last season, but they didn't have Michael McGlinchey.

The former Central Coast Mariners midfielder scored his second goal in two games on Saturday night to help the Phoenix to their first win of the new campaign in their second game, against his old club in Gosford.

McGlinchey was a crowd favourite during his five years with the Mariners where he won a championship and held their midfield together. And coach Ernie Merrick was full of praise for the playmaker.

"There's always a small percentage of people who take offence to people leaving clubs," Merrick said. "But I think overall he's still popular here [at Mariners] and did a great job switching off from the negativity last night and got on with the game and handled it all very well.

"He's turning into a tremendous signing, not just as a quality midfielder, but two games two goals."

McGlinchey scored from a header, after Jeremy Brockies' missed penalty rifled off the bar, and the pair had a hand in the winning goal too, scored by Nathan Burns. Merrick picked out the attacking trio as his best performers, and made special mention of Glen Moss' late save that earned them the three points.

"We were pretty dominant in midfield. Forward passing was good, can get better though. The new signings seem to be doing a good job of fitting in well."

Dutch midfielder Roly Bonavacia put in an energetic shift with a number of nice touches and looks to be developing a better understanding with Albert Riera and Alex Rodriguez.

Fullback Tom Doyle recovered from scoring a freak own-goal to deliver an inch-perfect cross which lead to the Phoenix's winner and grew in confidence as the match went on.

The Phoenix back four made a shaky start, but after going 2-1 up did a good job of making the field compact and preventing the Mariners' attackers from having any space or time on the ball.

The Phoenix host the Newcastle Jets on Sunday at 5pm.