Vibrant Central Coast Mariners too strong for Perth Glory

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Central Coast Mariners claimed their first A-League home win since New Year's Eve with a dynamic 2-0 victory over injury-hit Perth Glory on Thursday night.

Harry Ascroft volleyed home in the first half and Roy O'Donovan sealed all three points in the second, temporarily sending the Mariners into the top six.

Playing in front of their home fans at Gosford for just the second time this season, Mariners put on a show on for a small but vocal crowd of 5,296.

Connor Pain and Trent Buhagiar led an energetic Mariners performance that justified coach Paul Okon's decision to make four changes to his lineup.

But Glory looked lethargic, a bad night for them beginning with the loss of Socceroo Josh Risdon to a knee injury in the warmup and then seeing the early departure of Diego Castro through injury.

Right-back Rhys Williams had no answer to Pain's speed, while Buhagiar almost drew a penalty from Williams in the 26th minute.

The Glory picked up three yellow cards in the opening half as they had no match for the Mariners' pace, and the pressure eventually told.

Ascroft took advantage of a scramble in the box to volley home a Nick Montgomery corner with his second touch, registering his fourth goal of his A-League career.

Perth attempted to pick up the pace in the second half but their hopes of a recovery were dashed when O'Donovan slotted in a miscue from Montgomery in the 63rd minute.

The victory -- only their second at Gosford in 14 games -- elevates the Mariners past Western Sydney into sixth spot, while the Glory could fall as low as fifth by the end of the weekend. It was the Mariners' first clean sheet in 36 games.