Mariners and Adelaide share the spoils after late goal in Gosford

Late drama ensured that the points were shared as the Mariners drew 1-1 with Adelaide United in a clash of styles at Central Coast Stadium.

The hosts were completely pinned back in the first half but Sabit Ngor came off the bench and immediately gave his side the lead against the run of play. Ethan Alagic popped up in the 88th minute to salvage a deserved point for the largely dominant visitors.

The draw leaves both sides as they were in the Isuzu UTE A-League table. Central Coast go two points ahead of seventh-placed Macarthur, and Adelaide are just one point behind Sydney FC in third.

Yaya Dukuly was, characteristically, the primary source of excitement in the opening stages and when he cut inside and flashed a shot on target it was flicked over the bar in front of Andrew Redmayne by Brad Tapp.

Dukuly threatened again for the visitors when he was played in down the right and pulled the ball back to Jay Barnett but he blasted his shot over the bar.

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Ethan Alagic and Dukuly had good sights at goal towards the end of the half but both failed to capitalise, turning their efforts straight at Andrew Redmayne. When the first half ended, Adelaide had racked up 15 shots to the Mariners’ two.

The introduction of Sabit Ngor and Nathaniel Blair from the Central Coast bench showed promise straight away when the former looked to slide Blair in behind but the pass just beat him for pace.

But they didn’t need to wait long – just three minutes after being introduced, Ngor pounced upon a lapse in judgement from Joshua Smits following a long, searching ball from Haine Eames and walked the ball into the net for the hosts.

With the game blown open Adelaide surged up the other end and when the ball fell to substitute Anselmo he flicked it up to himself and connected with an overhead kick that had Redmayne scrambling to his right to smother it behind.

Redmayne received treatment following the save but was able to continue and strung together a handful of solid saves as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

The Mariners dam was finally broken when Brody Burkitt poked the ball through for Alagic who shifted it across his body and finished strongly to Redmayne’s left with two minutes to play.