Phoenix flame out in Gosford

Hopes of a late A-League resurrection have quickly flamed out for the Wellington Phoenix.

Six days after a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over the Perth Glory, the Phoenix have come crashing back down, falling 1-0 to the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford last night.

The bottom of the table clash presented a clash worthy of the occasion, a plodding, dull encounter, exacerbated by the Phoenix’s lack of attacking creativity.

The Phoenix had a chance to move into the giddying heights of eighth with a victory, but instead they regain favouritism for the wooden spoon, after being well outplayed by the Mariners.

The hosts had all the early running, forcing the Phoenix defence to scramble to clear their lines. Led by Dylan Fox, they succeeded in cutting out crosses and halting early inroads, but couldn’t stop the onslaught of pressure. It took half an hour for the Phoenix to have their first possession in the Mariners penalty area, as they struggled to keep possession in midfield, with Nathan Burns particularly sloppy on the counter-attack.

They nearly held out until halftime, but the Mariners took their deserved lead in the dying seconds of stoppage time, when Danny De Silva snuck in front of Tom Doyle, and threw out a foot to nudge a cross past Tando Velaphi.

The Phoenix were better after the break, with Roy Krishna curling a shot off the crossbar, before he and Andrija Kaluderovic both hit the side netting after counter-attacks.

However, the Mariners held on. Mariners 1 (De Silva)

Phoenix 0 HT: 1-0.