Melbourne hold on to record vital away win

Melbourne Victory have survived a late Central Coast onslaught to defeat the Mariners 2-1 in Gosford tonight thanks to goals from Archie Thompson and Adrian Leijer.

The home side had taken a 33rd minute lead through Dean Heffernan but after falling behind simply couldn't get the ball in the back of the net again, experiencing several near misses in an enthralling end to the match.

The Mariners welcomed back Stewart Petrie and Matt Osman into the starting line up from injury while Melbourne were unchanged following their first ever Hyundai A-League win at home to Newcastle last Sunday.

However the big change for the hosts saw Australian under 20 goalkeeper Danny Vukovic replacing injured regular first choice John Crawley and the youngster was immediately called into action with a comfortable save from a Simon Storey effort.

The midfield battle was proving absorbing with clear cut openings at a premium, Danny Allsopp having a rare chance after turning his marker but his weak effort was saved easily by the debutant keeper.

It took until the 33rd minute for a noteworthy chance to materialise for either side and to the jubilation of the home crowd it resulted in the opening goal for the Mariners.

With the game so tight it appeared set pieces could prove particularly important and it was from a curling John Hutchinson free kick that Dean Heffernan rose unchallenged to powerfully head the ball home into an empty net.

Allsopp tried his best to make an instant riposte but his low effort failed to trouble the inexperienced Vukovic.

Steve Pantelidis was the next to try his luck from long range after a marauding run from defence but his shot was straight into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.

Kristian Sarkies created the best first half opening for the visitors late on with a fine run and shot but Vukovic continued to excel with a superb diving save, keeping the Central Coast a goal to the good at the interval.

The opening minutes of the second stanza mirrored that of the first with very few tangible openings, John Hutchinson involved in one of the more notable moments colliding with Victory keeper Galekovic after finding himself in behind the defence.

Melbourne were then presented with easily their clearest chance of the night thus far when former West Ham trainee Michael Ferrante was through one on one with Vukovic, however the midfielder's delicate chip was inventively headed away by the excellent keeper when the goal was gaping.

Archie Thompson was having a quiet evening by his own lofty standards but showed a brief glimpse of his undoubted talent with a creative back heel in the opposition area, the ball again falling kindly for the goalkeeper.

The Victory's search for an equaliser then ended on a fairly fortuitous note when Kevin Muscat went down under a Hutchinson challenge in the area, the Mariners midfielder booked as Melbourne prepared to take the vital penalty.

The visiting skipper then handed penalty taking duties to the in form Thompson, and while Vukovic continued his amazing display with a great save the ball rebounded to the Socceroos striker who calmly tucked it away to put his side on level terms.

Danny Allsopp then had a terrific chance to score the second for Melbourne after slaloming his way through the defence but Vukovic again produced heroics to limit the damage to a corner.

Unfortunately for the majority of the 9,313 fans inside the Central Coast stadium the Victory's second would arrive from the subsequent set piece.

Adrian Leijer made the telling connection with Chris Tadrosse's delivery, Wayne O'Sullivan was unable to save on the line and the Mariners had just nine minutes plus added on time to save a point.

Substitute Adam Kwasnik headed over the first of several great goalscoring opportunities for the home side as Melbourne desperately held on to their first ever away win in the A-League.

Dean Heffernan had perhaps the best of the lot when he side footed an effort wide with the goal completely open, before Alex Wilkinson saw his attempt miraculously cleared off the line as the hosts began to realise it just wasn't their night.

John Hutchinson's unfortunate clash with Kevin Muscat saw him carried off the field in a dazed state and his replacement Russell Woodruffe nearly stole the headlines with a tremendous header which agonisingly struck the post, the Victory holding on for a extremely hard fought 2-1 win.

The Mariners will hope for better luck in the next round when they make the daunting trip north to take on the Roar in Queensland, while Melbourne host New Zealand where they will hope to record an impressive third consecutive victory.

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