Central Coast Mariners' winless A-League run continues at Melbourne Victory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:07 am

Central Coast's run of A-League games without a win stretched to five after the Mariners were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

Central Coast skipper Matt Simon's sixth-minute goal was cancelled out by a second-half Callum McManaman effort for the home team.

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The Mariners moved back to second spot on the A-League table behind Melbourne City, but have now taken just three points from a possible 15 since their most recent win against Adelaide United on April 1.

Moving the ball with ease, the Mariners started brightly on Sunday when Stefan Nigro swung a cross to the top of the Victory six-yard-box that Simon met with a header that bounced beyond keeper Matt Acton. Further chances followed, but the visitors' strong start soon faded.

Callum McManaman's equaliser denied Central Coast a first win in five games.
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Victory produced a trio of late first-half chances to almost restore parity; Rudy Gestede missing a close-range volley, McManaman forcing a save from range and Robbie Kruse hitting the post with a volley.

Gestede believed he'd found the leveller in the 50th when he rose to head home a cross from Kruse, only for referee Jonathan Barreiro to wave the goal away after adjudging the Beninese international had used defender Kye Rowles as a springboard.

There was no denying McManaman's 62nd-minute leveller, however, after the winger seized on a loose ball inside the Mariners box and bent a shot beyond Mark Birighitti and inside the far post.

The result means Victory have taken a win and a draw from their three games since sacking Grant Brebner on April 17.