The Central Coast Mariners defeated Melbourne Victory 1-0 at polytec Stadium on Sunday evening, in a game where they were reduced to 10-men and came off the field for more than an hour due to lightning strikes in the area.
Both sides struggled to dictate the tempo of the game in Gosford as strong winds and rain lashed polytec Stadium.
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Victory had the better of the early chances with midfielder Denis Genreau coming closest in the opening 30 minutes with a long range strike that fizzed over the bar.
However the game exploded into life in the 35th minute as Mariners forward Ali Auglah drove at Victory defender Lachie Jackson down the right, cut inside onto his left foot and whipped a stunning effort into the far corner to give the home side the lead.
The game was then paused in the 41st minute due to lightning strikes in the vicinity of polytec Stadium and with the strikes ongoing, the game was eventually suspended for close to an hour before the players were able to come back out and play the remaining four minutes of the first half.
Still in the lead, the Mariners were dealt a huge blow at the start of the second half as defender Nathan Paull was shown a straight red card after bringing down Nikos Vergos in what was deemed to be a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
From then on, Melbourne Victory cranked up the pressure as they sought an equaliser in the rain at polytec Stadium.
Matthew Grimaldi had two good chances but was thwarted by Mariners keeper Andrew Redmayne before the former Socceroo then denied defender Lachlan Jackson.
Now a battle between Victory and Redmayne, the experienced keeper tipped a skidding low effort from Jordi Valadon round the post before he was beaten a minute later, however Vergos’ header in the 69th minute was ruled out due to the Greek being offside.
That would prove to be his last involvement on the pitch as Japanese forward Charles Nduka was brought on for his debut in the pouring rain.
Nishan Velupillay was the latest to test Redmayne, this time in the 74th minute as the Socceroo fired a first-time effort into the gloves of the keeper from the edge of the box before the Mariners man was then called into action to thwart Louis D’Arrigo six minutes later.
Victory then wasted their best chance of the evening in the 87th minute as Nduka missed a sitter from close range, side footing the ball wide of the target after a brilliant run from Velupillay.
Ending a three-game winless run, the result moves the Mariners off the foot of the ladder and above Western Sydney Wanderers.
As for Melbourne Victory, Arthur Diles’ side remain in eighth spot on the ladder after suffering their third loss in five matches.
