Melbourne swept aside by finals bound Mariners

The Central Coast Mariners have booked their place in the A-League final series after they overcame the Melbourne Victory 3-1 in front of a record Gosford crowd tonight.

11,954 fans packed in to Central Coast Stadium to witness Noel Spencer's brace and Dean Heffernan's clinching late strike, overcoming the early setback of Michael Ferrante's goal to give the Mariners a great chance of clinching second spot.

Heffernan's return was the main plus point for Lawrie McKinna leading in to the crucial clash with Stewart Petrie also coming in for the injured Adam Kwasnik, while Melbourne welcomed back influential winger Richard Kitzbichler in to their starting line up.

After a particularly quiet opening period with neither side managing to produce any meaningful attacks, an innocuous looking long ball led to a horror start for the ambitious Mariners.

Controlling well on the right Ferrante had the spirit to take on his marker, turning Beauchamp far too easily before unleashing a low strike which Danny Vukovic failed to keep out giving the Victory an unlikely lead.

Stewart Petrie was looking lively up front as he attempts to cement his starting place but when played in by strike partner Tom Pondeljak he could only volley wide to leave McKinna frustrated at the prospect of throwing away their finals aspirations.

However the boost the home side needed wasn't far away as Adrian Leijer was deemed to have handled in the area, referee Simon Przydacz awarding a penalty kick and a wonderful chance to equalise.

Up stepped Petrie but although the Scotsman produced a decent attempt he was thwarted by an excellent save by Michael Theoklitos low to his right as Melbourne held on to their slender advantage.

That immense disappointment was soon forgotten though as a quick free kick found the clever run of Spencer who rounded the keeper and tapped in to level the scores at one goal a piece much to the relief of the record crowd.

The often maligned Daniel Allsopp hadn't been involved in the contest in the first half but perhaps with a touch more confidence he would've buried his one on one chance early in the second stanza, Vukovic managing to deflect the strike over the bar.

Allsopp then had another half-chance, narrowly missing the target with a blistering effort from just outside the box.

With very little on the line for the Victorian side it was no surprise that the Central Coast possessed the greater attacking impetus, and the enthusiastic Gosford fans would soon have another goal to celebrate.

The Mariners were awarded a dangerous looking free kick on the edge of the area and although Petrie blasted in to the wall he had the presence of mind to play in the inspirational Spencer who drilled it underneath Theoklitos to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the match.

Allsopp was persistently troubling the Mariners backline but the former Notts County striker just couldn't find the finishing touch to beat Vukovic, the cutting edge that had evaded Melbourne all season continuing to desert them.

The Central Coast coaching staff were still looking on anxiously with just the one goal lead but any nerves were extinguished when a corner resulted in a goal mouth scramble, leaving the returning Heffernan to consummately finish his seventh goal of a stunningly prolific campaign to seal the match at 3-1.

The Mariners will now finish in the top four of the inaugural Hyundai A-League table and will look to claim second spot away to the in form Queensland next week, while Melbourne will do their best to finish their season on a high at home to New Zealand.

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