But despite being up against ten men following Jamie Harnwell's first half red card, it was the Mariners that were clinging on for dear life in the second half as Glory put on a spirited performance.

Daniel McBreen opened the scoring before Matt Simon doubled the lead just moments later. Seconds later the Mariners were awarded a penalty but Perth keeper Tando Velaphi saved Simon's tame effort.

An elbow to Simon's face from Harnwell a few minutes after saw him head for an early bath but Glory still managed to snatch back a goal just before half-time from Todd Howarth.

With renewed hope, Glory came out to attack in the second half and pinned back the visitors but were unable to convert their possession into goals.

Adrian Pellegrino joined Harnwell in the dressing room when he saw red for his second yellow card offence on the stroke of full-time after a heated encounter.

The Mariners now remain in second place on the A-League ladder with the win and move three points clear of Adelaide United. They now take on Sydney FC, Adelaide, Melbourne Heart, Gold Coast and Newcastle in the lead up to the finals.

Meanwhile Glory stay second last, two points adrift of Sydney FC. Any hopes of finals are now long gone for Perth but they look set to avoid the wooden spoon if they keep up their decent form in the run home against Wellington, Sydney, Gold Coast and Newcastle.

Perth Glory 1 (Howarth 38')
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 22', Simon 23')
Crowd: 6828 at nib Stadium