A-League wrap: Mariners go equal top on points

The Central Coast Mariners moved to second on the A-League ladder with a 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.

A 14th minute poacher’s goal from Matt Simon gave the Mariners an early lead in front of a season-best Newcastle crowd of 13,467 before substitute John Hutchinson sealed the win three minutes before full-time.

The win moves the Mariners to 43 points on the table, equal with Adelaide United but ahead on goal difference with the Central Coast side having a game in hand over the South Australians.

The Jets hold onto sixth despite the loss but will have to regroup with an undermanned squad when they travel to Queensland to play the Gold Coast next Saturday.

The Jets went into the clash with a host of senior players on the injury list and they were dealt an early blow when skipper Kasey Wehrman hobbled off the ground with an ankle injury.

With the Jets in a sense of disarray the Mariners took advantage scoring an early opening goal.

An Oliver Bozanic Jets long ball looked like being easily dealt with by Jets defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley but he didn’t get enough on his back pass to keeper Ben Kennedy and Simon pounced on the loss ball to slot it into the corner of the net from 15 yards.

Simon should have grabbed his second in the 77th minute when he was one-on-one with Kennedy but the Jets glovesman got down low to effect a strong reflex save.

The visitors eventually put the game beyond doubt when McClinchey squared to Hutchinson on the edge of the box and the Mariners favourite slotted a right-footed shot inside the far post.