The Reds dominated the first-half of the game and took a deserved lead just before the break through Iain Fyfe, but the Mariners hit back in the second stanza with Matt Simon scoring an 84th minute equaliser.

Adelaide's Adam Hughes was sent off minutes later, before the Mariners had a decent late shout for a penalty turned down after Daniel Mullen's handball inside the box.

Speaking to Fox Sports after the game, Coolen said the Reds might have been fortunate.

"In the end of the game we were a little lucky, we could've given away a handball penalty in the last-minute for them," he said. "So we're happy with one point.

"Before the game, if you play an away game and get a result like this then it's not negative.

"But we were here for three points and we did well in the first-half. We had 8 or ten chances to score the goals."

Central Coast coach Graham Arnold refused to enter into the debate about whether Mullen's stoppage-time handball warranted a Mariners penalty.

"I haven't really seen it, but he made a decision and we have to live by it," Arnold told Fox Sports.

"I was more focused and happy with our second-half performance.

"I thought our first-half we were a little bit flat, gave them a little bit too much space, but the second-half the way we played, I thought there was only one side that wanted to win it."

Arnold added: "Overall I'm happy with the draw and the way we fought back."

Central Coast's Argentine midfielder Patricio Perez was absent with injury again for the Mariners, but Arnold explained he wasn't far away.

"He's nearly ready," he said. He's doing everything at training.

"It's just that little bit extra for the top-speed he can't get into at the moment.

"So it's better off to leave it for another week, so hopefully we'll have him ready for Wellington next week."