Duke double Nukes Adelaide

Despite trailing at the half-time, Central Coast Mariners were rarely troubled in a 3-1 victory over Adelaide United at Bluetongue Stadium.

Central Coast had the best of the early chances — in fact, they had just about all of them — and should have been out of sight by the twenty minute mark with Bernie Ibini, Daniel McBreen, and Oliver Bozanic all missing gilt-edged chances inside the six-yard box in that period.

There was always a danger that the plethora of missed chances could come back to haunt the Mariners, and it seemed that would be the case when a Daniel Bowles shot from outside the area took a deflection past Mat Ryan to give Adelaide the unlikeliest of leads at the break.

It was the introduction of Mitchell Duke that changed the game on the hour mark, scoring in the 67th and 72nd minute, either side of a missed penalty by McBreen.

Michael McGlinchey tapped home from inside the six-yard box after good work by Nick Fitzgerald to head down a Pedj Bojic cross to seal the three points for the home side.

Central Coast showed that there’s still life after Tom Rogic, but questions remain about Adelaide who were never at the races and now face Western Sydney at home next week without a recognised striker after Jeronimo picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.

CCM: Ryan / Bojic Anderson Zwaanswijk Rose / Hutchinson Montgomery / Ibini McGlinchey Bozanic / McBreen. Subs: Pasfield Griffiths Duke Fitzgerald

ADL: Galekovic / Bowles Boogaard Golec Cassio / Watson Vidosic Barbiero / Kostopolous Jeronimo Ramsay. Subs: Izzo McKain Carrusca Barker-Daish