Tim Cahill's brace with goals in the third and 39th minutes was enough to get the home side over the line against the lowly Mariners.

Roy O’Donovan managed to get the game on level terms in the ninth minute, but it was his dismissal shortly after which would have everyone talking.

The Irishman was pulled up for an elbow on Michael Jakobsen by linesman George Lakrindis who advised referee Daniel Elder to brandish a straight red card.

It then drew comparisons with Besart Berisha’s red card on Luke DeVere last week, with many on social media believing Elder had ruined the game.

Central Coast couldn’t have wished for a shakier start as Bruno Fornaroli was fouled twice in quick succession in the opening minutes.

Luke Brattan’s free kick was defended poorly, allowing Cahill to slide the ball past Paul Izzo.

And as it looked as if it would be a long night for the Mariners, O’Donovan equalised six minutes later after Nick Montgomery and Connor Pain combined to set up the Irishman for an easy finish.

Izzo was needed when City nearly regained the lead shortly after, as Nicolas Colazo’s free kick skimmed off Cahill’s head allowing Jakobsen to blast it at the Mariners goalkeeper only to be denied.

But the big call came soon after when the Dane was adjudged to have been elbowed in the face by O’Donovan as the ball was in flight.

Jakobsen was clearly angered by the incident as the call was made by linesman Lakrindis who advised Elder to dismiss the Irishman.

The pressure was then on City to take advantage of an outnumbered Mariners and they continued to ask questions of the defence as Colazo, Bruce Kamau and Neil Kilkenny all came close to scoring.

City would take the lead with six minutes remaining in the first half as a corner led to Osama Malik’s header being cleared off the line only for Brattan to cross the ball back in for Cahill to finish with a trademark header.

On the brink of half-time, City almost killed off the Mariners when Bruno Fornaroli’s cross landed to Colazo whose header cannoned off the crossbar for a goal kick.

Fernando Brandan should have iced the game with under 20 minutes remaining when Colazo’s cross found the Argentinian in the six-yard box but he blasted his header over the crossbar.

City continued to dominate but it remained 2-1 as they claimed the three points to keep the Mariners bottom of the table.

The Mariners face Perth Glory at home next week while City travel to Newcastle to lock horns with the Jets.

Melbourne City: 20. BOUZANIS Dean, 3. ROSE Josh, 5. FRANJIC Ivan, 6. MALIK Osama, 8. KILKENNY Neil, 9. COLAZO Nico (84’ 10. CACERES Anthony), 11. KAMAU Bruce (67’ 27. BRANDAN Fernando), 17. CAHILL Tim (78’ 12. FITZGERALD Nick), 22. JAKOBSEN Michael, 23. FORNAROLI Bruno, 26. BRATTAN Luke

Central Coast Mariners: 20. IZZO Paul, 2. ROUX Storm, 3. GALLOWAY Scott (83’ 21. NEILL Michael), 5. ASCROFT Harry, 6. POWELL Blake (71’ 13. APPIAH Kwabena), 7. FABIO FERREIRA (62’ 12. BUHAGIAR Trent), 8. MONTGOMERY Nick, 9. O’DONOVAN Roy, 11. PAIN Connor, 16. ROSE Liam, 22. MCGING Jake

Referee: Daniel Elder

Attendance: 8784