Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory have taken one point apiece in their A-League clash in Gosford.
Within the first minute, Victory were awarded a free kick three yards from the edge of the box, which James Troisi lifted over the top of the wall, but the ball bounced right into the hands of the Mariners keeper.
At the other end, Storm Roux made a surging run into the box and launched a swerving ball with his right foot towards goal, but his effort was off target as it dipped behind the corner of the post.
Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe was forced into a tight save following a free kick from the home side, which was flicked on and narrowly missed by Brent Griffiths, who tried to guide the ball into the back of the net with a header, but Coe was able to knock it out of danger.
The visitors came the closest to breaking the deadlock after around half-an-hour of the first half when Archie Thompson drove down the right-hand side and played the ball back into the box to find Troisi, who took a few touches before shooting, but his effort was blocked.
Victory began to take control of the game in the final 10 minutes by creating numerous attacking plays, and captain Mark Milligan came close by storming into the box and unleashing a shot, but it bounced off the crossbar.
The home side continued struggling to find their rhythm in the second half and they were forced to defend, when Troisi played the ball into Thompson in the box.
The hosts came close to grabbing the first goal of the game when Michael McGlinchey received the ball in the box from a whipping cross from the right. He took a shot on the turn but it was blocked by Victory shirts.
At the other end, Guilherme Finkler found space in the area to unleash a thumping shot towards goal, but it was saved.
Daniel McBreen thought that he had won it for the home side when he glided the ball into the back of the net, but he was ruled offside and then cautioned for continuing his attack on goal.
Danielle Joynson
