In-form striker Mitchell Duke bagged a first half double as the Central Coast Mariners bounced back from a last-start defeat to down Perth in the National Youth League on Saturday.
Duke slotted home in the fifth minute and added a second in the 40th minute as the Mariners won 4-0 at Pluim Park on the Central Coast.
The result was the perfect way to hit back after last week’s 3-2 defeat against Adelaide in South Australia.
Duke was replaced early in the second half but, did enough damage in a dominant first half display.
He was a constant threat to the Perth defence and could easily have scored a hat-trick before half-time.
Duke’s two goals came either side of an own goal from Perth in the 23rd minute.
It was a first half completely dominated by the home side.
The Mariners could easily have scored six or seven goals with Perth struggling to maintain possession.
The visitors were a completely different proposition in the second half.
Although they created few chanches, Perth had a lot more of the ball and at least put the Mariners defence under some pressure.
While Perth were more dangerous the Mariners did not shut up shop in the second stanza.
Bernie Ibini-Isei had a great chance to extend the lead seven minutes after the break but failed to finish off from close range.
Ibini-Isei had another chance in the 75th minute when he controlled the ball but his volley went just over the bar.
In the 82nd Max Glanville had a chance to score the Mariners fourth before being denied by some resolute Perth defence.
The Mariners finally scored a fourth goal with time almost up when captain Sam Munro scored after a goalmouth scramble.
Central Coast 4 (Duke 5′ 40, own goal 23′, Munro 85′)
Perth 0
