Petrie brace steers Mariners to victory in New Zealand

The Central Coast Mariners have recorded a crucial away win against an improved New Zealand outfit at North Harbour stadium tonight to leave the Knights firmly fixed to the foot of the table with just three points all season.

Stewart Petrie was the hero of the night for the visitors with two second half goals including a penalty, after Simon Yeo had converted his own spot kick to cancel out Dean Heffernan's early strike.

There was just the one change to the Mariners side which suffered a 1-0 derby reverse to Newcastle last week with fit again Damien Brown taking his place on the left flank replacing Matt Osman, while New Zealand gave a first start to young striker Kris Bright in an effort to freshen up the attack.

And the Knights were obviously looking for a bright opening with Naoki Imaya testing Vukovic with a curling left footed effort, but the optimism was to turn to bitter disappointment just seconds later.

Having looked focused in attack New Zealand neglected to concentrate on defending as Dean Heffernan received a throw in and strolled virtually unopposed into the opposition area to calmly tuck the ball past Milosevic and give the Central Coast a dream start.

The signs appeared ominous for the habitually luckless Knights however they were given an unexpected lifeline just two minutes later and the chance to get back on level terms almost instantly.

The Mariners failed to properly deal with a corner and after Simon Yeo went down from an apparent challenge by the returning Brown the referee contentiously pointed to the spot.

Yeo stepped up himself and despite Danny Vukovic getting a strong hand to the ball it was 1-1 and the match was back to a level contest after eight exciting minutes.

Spaces were opening in abundance and latching onto an excellent outside of the foot pass by Heffernan was Stewart Petrie, but the Scotsman's low effort failed to trouble the New Zealand goalkeeper.

Josh Rose has been one of the few bright spots of the A-League so far for the Knights and his direct run and cross led to a terrific chance for Fitzsimmons, his sliding effort being cleared off the line before Vukovic pounced on Rose's second attempt.

New Zealand were looking as good going forward as they had all season and Steve Fitzsimmons went close to a wonderful goal, beating Spencer in the centre of the park before unleashing a 25 yard strike which cannoned back of the bar much to the frustration of the Knights no.7.

The home side were also appearing decidedly more resolute in defence then they had in the opening minutes, getting back in numbers to diffuse a promising attack with Heffernan eventually firing over wastefully from range.

Fitzsimmons again showed some promise for the hosts with a lovely through ball to Imaya but the midfielder's shot went well over the bar as the half time whistle approached.

There was however one last chance for Tommy Pondeljak to showcase his undeniable class with a superb run but his well struck effort was dealt with comfortably by Milosevic and New Zealand went in at the break with the scores tied.

Knights coach John Adshead made an enforced change at half time with keeper Glen Moss replacing the injured Milosevic, but while New Zealand would have been wary following the Central Coast's early first half strike Moss' first real contribution was to pick the ball out of the back of his net.

Unsurprisingly Tommy Pondeljak was highly influential with a darting run to the by-line and his pin point cross found Petrie completely unmarked at the back post who duly nodded home to restore the Mariners lead.

And the Central Coast really should've scored a third as Pondeljak released O'Sullivan into a vast amount of space, his cross finding Gumprecht with time in the box only for Moss to make a vital save to keep his side in the match.

The Mariners were playing more conservative, controlled football with the lead and as a result chances were beginning to dissipate, although Andre Gumprecht managed to fashion a chance following a corner with a first time volley that failed to trouble Moss.

But following a penalty appeal in the Mariners box the visitors through route one football went up the other end and got a spot kick of their own, Pondeljak being ruthlessly tugged to the ground by Cole Tinkler resulting in a nasty looking injury to the influential playmaker.

As Pondeljak hobbled to the sideline to be replaced, Petrie coolly dispatched the penalty to take his season's tally to six and put the result beyond any reasonable doubt.

Mariners skipper Noel Spencer has been unusually prolific so far this season and was looking to add to his four goals with another strike, blazing over following neat approach play from Heffernan.

It seemed more likely that the Mariners would add a fourth rather than the Knights pulling one back and following some nice build up play from substitutes Woodruffe and Hutchinson, Gumprecht rolled the ball to the third replacement Osman whose shot fizzed narrowly over the bar.

Gumprecht led another fine counter attack moments later but with a three on one situation he delayed the pass to hat trick hunting Petrie and when it eventually arrived to Woodruffe he blasted into the side netting.

Yet another great chance came and went as Hutchinson scythed through the defence but despite the save from Moss the Central Coast did end the match victorious with a 3-1 score line.

The Mariners will now be full of confidence going into next week's huge derby match with Sydney FC while New Zealand will continue their desperate search for points at home to Newcastle.

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