Soccer: Determined Phoenix sink Mariners

Dylan Macallister of the Phoenix and Patrick Zwaanswijk of the Mariners. Photo / Getty Images

There were no late lapses this time as the Wellington Phoenix continued their domination of a disappointing Central Coast Mariners with a richly deserved, if not entirely convincing, A-League win at Westpac Stadium yesterday.

In conditions a world apart from the dreadful wet which marred their opening game nine days earlier, the Phoenix stretched their unbeaten Hyundai A-League record at the ground to 21.

Unlike the late uncertainty which allowed Central Coast to snatch two goals and a 3-3 draw, there was no such charity this time.

The visitors, who topped the table after week two, started promisingly, forced the home side to defend early but then conceded and only rarely threatened to break back after that.

The four-man Phoenix defence were given an armchair ride as new Mariners' coach Graham Arnold opted to play Matt Simon as a long striker.

By halftime he had seen enough of central defender Ben Sigmund, seemed disgruntled and resigned to a nil return for his afternoon's work.

Michael McGlinchey began well in the heart of the visitors' five-man midfield but much of his good work was of questionable value as he lacked front-running support. He became less of a force as the game wore on and Sigmund and captain Andrew Durante took control in central defence.

After answering those early questions, the Phoenix struck first when, in the 10th minute, right-back Manny Muscat overlapped superbly, beat a couple of half-hearted tackles and eventually had the ball slipped to Leo Bertos, who had the simplest of tap-ins from right in front of the Mariners' goal with goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan well beaten.

The home team's desire to add to that early success led to a succession of offside calls which blighted their attacking endeavours and led to scrappy periods as neither team found any real rhythm.

Neither goalkeeper was called to make a save in the first 45 minutes, although there was concern in the Phoenix camp when Mark Paston went down with what was later revealed as a right quadricep injury. He returned for the second half but there will be worries as the team prepares to fly out for Friday's game in Brisbane.

The second goal came on the hour and from a slice of Paul Ifill magic.

Playing his 400th senior match - for a variety of teams - Ifill showed all his class in gathering the ball, bringing it down and then unleashing a shot with the outside of his left boot which left Vanstrattan with nothing to do but retrieve from the back of his goal.

Both coaches made second half changes but none made much difference, although the visitors fired in a couple of late shots and had another scrambled effort cleared by the Phoenix defence.

Ifill too had a sniff late in the game but he was wide then high as the home side, cheered on by 9500 fans, ran down the clock to stretch their unbeaten run against the Mariners to seven - all without conceding a goal.

Their first away trip promises to be a bigger test against a Brisbane side who the Phoenix have beaten only once and who will be buoyed by Saturday's 1-0 win over Sydney FC.

FULL TIME SCORE
Phoenix 2
Mariners 0