Faulty Bolty and the parting of the Red Sea

Central Coast Mariners extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a comfortable 2-0 win over Melbourne Heart, with both goals coming via the same method — speculative Pedj Bojic attempts dealt horribly with by Clint Bolton.

Melbourne Heart suffered a blow before the game with the dangerous Josip Tadic ruled out of the clash with a back complaint, replaced in the lineup by Dylan Macallister.

The round four fixture between these two teams was a dour contest, and the first half of this clash continued in the same vein, with very few chances for either side. In fact, one of the only looks at goal for the Heart came from a Bojic error, directing a Garcia cross straight into the path of Macallister, with the ex-Mariners man unable to capitalise.

Central Coast had the better of the chances, with their best effort courtesy of Michael McGlinchey arriving at the far post from a Josh Rose cross, but his effort was blocked on the line by Colosimo.

The lack of chances on goal were a result of a conscious effort by Melbourne to close down the space and time that was available to returning Socceroo Tommy Rogic, leading to a stop-start encounter. Melbourne Heart's persistent fouling has become an unfortunate feature of their game in recent weeks — which is somewhat ironic considering how vocal John Aloisi has been about other teams fouling his players. All four Heart defenders were booked during the course of the match.

Bojic opened the scoring just after the break, with a low drive from 30 yards squeezing underneath Bolton and trickling over the line. Whilst not quite as horrendous as that infamous Massimo Taibi tunnel-ball for Manchester United all those years ago — Bolton would definitely want that one back.

With the Mariners in the ascended they looked to extend their lead through their two dangermen Rogic and McBreen — the latter spooning a gilt-edged chance over the bar, with only the scoreboard preventing it from landing in Brisbane Waters.

Not soon after, Bojic added a second when his innocuous dipping free kick from 30 yards passed the defensive wall and wrong-footed Bolton. It's difficult to separate which was the most embarrassing — the attempted saves by the keeper or the ridiculous jump-shot celebrations by the goal scorer...

Unfortunately for football website writers and pun enthusiasts, substitute Golgol Mebrahtu couldn't replicate his heroics of a week ago, steering it wide from a one-on-one chance with Mat Ryan.

Despite the fortuitous nature of both goals, Central Coast were never troubled by a meek and unimaginative Heart side, who will have to improve vastly if they're to halt their slide down the ladder.

Central Coast: 1. Mathew Ryan (GK), 4. Pedj Bojic, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 3. Joshua Rose, 18. Nick Montogmery, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 7. John Hutchinson, 10. Tomas Rogic, 2. Daniel McBreen, 9. Bernie Ibini-Isei

Subs: 20. Justin Pasfield (GK), 5. Zac Anderson, 8. Anthony Pellegrino, 19. Mitchell Duke

Melbourne Heart: 1. Clint Bolton (GK), 2. Michael Marrone, 4. Simon Colosimo, 6. Patrick Gerhardt, 16. Aziz Behich, 8. Matt Thompson, 11. Richard Garcia, 17. Justin Hoffman, 5. Fred, 9. Dylan MacAllister, 15. David Williams

Subs: 20. Andrew Redmayne (GK), 14. Golgol Mebrahtu, 18. David Vrankovic, 22. Nick Kalmar