Edwards era off to a flyer in Perth

New Perth Glory boss Alistair Edwards couldn't have asked for a better start to his tenure in charge as his side beat the ladder leading Central Coast Mariners 2-1 tonight.

Like the currently under construction NIB Stadium, Glory still require plenty of work but there were encouraging signs for the crowd of 5909 in attendance.

It was the vistiors who went in front after 15 minutes though when some Glory sloppiness in midfield was punished and Bernie Ibini fired past Danny Vukovic.

A goal down to the table topping Mariners, you might have expected Glory to collapse but instead they showed the sort of fight that has been lacking in recent weeks and drew level on 27 minutes.

Nick Ward's delightful ball over the top found Travis Dodd who took one touch before beating Mat Ryan with a low left foot finish.

Daniel McBreen spurned a great chance to restore his side's lead seven minutes before half time and after the break it was the home side who began to dominate.

After Josh Risdon had rattled the bar just after the hour mark, Glory took the lead when a bullet of a header from Shane Smeltz beat Ryan.

The Mariners were poor for the most part and rarely threatened in the second period, while Edwards will be very pleased with the efforts of his players.

Perth Glory: 1. Daniel Vukovic, 5. Steve Pantelidis, 6. Nick Ward, 8. Dean Heffernan, 9. Shane Smeltz, 10. Liam Miller, 13. Travis Dodd, 14. Steven McGarry, 17. Chris Harold, 19. Joshua Risdon, 23. Michael Thwaite.

Subs: 2. Jack Clisby, 12. Ryo Nagai, 15. Brandon O’Neill, Lewis Italiano.

Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mathew Ryan, 2. Daniel McBreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic. 6 Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson, 9. Berni Ibini, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 16. Trent Sainsbury, Nick Montgomery, 21. Mile Sterjovski.

Subs: 5. Zachary Anderson, 19. Mitchell Duke, 20. Justin Pasfield, 29. Nick Fitzgerald.