Hopes of a late A-League resurrection have quickly flamed out for the Wellington Phoenix.
Six days after a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over the Perth Glory, the Phoenix have come crashing back down, falling 1-0 to the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.
The bottom of the table clash presented a clash worthy of the occasion, a plodding, dull encounter, exacerbated by the Phoenix's lack of attacking creativity.
The Phoenix had a chance to move into the giddying heights of eighth with a victory, but instead they regain favoritism for the wooden spoon, after being well outplayed by the Mariners.
The hosts had all the early running, forcing the Phoenix defence to scramble to clear their lines. Led by Dylan Fox, they succeeded in cutting out crosses and halting early inroads, but couldn't stop the onslaught of pressure. It took half an hour for the Phoenix to have their first possession in the Mariners penalty area, as they struggled to keep possession in midfield, with Nathan Burns particularly sloppy on the counter-attack.
