A-League wrap: Mariners, Glory easy winners

14 December 2012 14:06

A rare Pedj Bojic brace has secured the Central Coast Mariners a 2-0 win against the Melbourne Heart on Friday night at Bluetongue Stadium.

The triumph sees Central Coast (26 points) temporarily extend their lead at the top of the table to four points with second-placed Adelaide (22) still to play Wellington on Sunday.

The fun started for Bojic in the 49th minute after a calamitous error from Melbourne Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton - one of the most consistent custodians in the A-League.

A Bojic strike from 26 metres out on the angle appeared to only require a regulation save but the ball slipped through Bolton's hands, then his legs and over the goal line.

Bolton was seemingly unsighted 20 minutes later after a dipping Bojic free kick passed the Melbourne Heart defensive wall and fired the Mariners to a fourth straight win.

Meanwhile, a brace from Travis Dodd either side of half-time set Perth Glory on their way to a 3-0 win over the Newcastle Jets.

Shane Smeltz was also on target from the penalty spot, firing into the top corner after being brought down by Josh Mitchell in the area.

It was the home side's first win since Round 5 when, coincidentally, they also beat Friday night's opponents.

Glory took the lead right on half-time when Dodd pounced on a loose ball from Mitchell Oxborrow to run through and finish low past Jets keeper Matt Nash.

After Jacob Burns had stung the goalkeeper's hands with a long-range strike a minute after the restart, Dodd doubled his side's lead as he was left unmarked six yards from goal to head home Liam Miller's cross.

Newcastle threatened on occasion but their finishing lacked conviction, an accusation which couldn't be levelled at Smeltz who made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on 75 minutes.

The Jets almost pulled one back late but Josh Risdon was well positioned on the goal line to clear Emile Heskey's header from a corner.