Mariners striker Matt Simon broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a stylish solo effort before a Sergio van Dijk own goal in the 78th minute sealed the win for the Central Coast side.

The win lifts the Mariners onto 36 points, just one behind the Reds on 37, although Central Coast have the advantage of a game in hand.

Both sides started the crucial clash cautiously and for the most part it was a fairly uneventful first half.

Adelaide's Paul Reid fired over the bar from 20 metres out in the ninth minute while the Mariners best chances fell to Simon, who nodded in two on-target headers that were saved by Eugene Galekovic.

The visitors were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 36th minute when Travis Dodd's flick shot from 15 yards out appeared to come off the hand of Mariners defender Joshua Rose, but referee Ryan Shepheard waved play on to see the sides locked at 0-0 at the break.

The home side grabbed the opener just six minutes after the resumption of play when Simon got the better of Iain Fyfe on the left touchline.

The big Mariners striker ghosted his way to the edge of the penalty area and looked like passing to an unmarked Patricio Perez in the middle of the paddock before sneaking a low shot inside the near post from 18 yards out.

Adelaide coach Rini Coolen tried to shake things up by bringing on Cameron Watson and Iain Ramsey for Marcos Flores and Dodd respectively while the Mariners substituted Adam Kwasnik for Daniel McBreen in the 76th minute.

Just two minutes later the Mariners put the game beyond doubt when van Dijk was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time when a Michael McGlinchey corner cleared a throng of players in the penalty area only to slide off van Dijk's shin and into his own net.

The Mariners attacked with abandon in the final 10 minutes and went close on a number of occasions, nicely rounding off a productive Boxing Day for the Central Coast side.

Central Coast Mariners 2 (Simon 51', van Dijk og 78')
Adelaide United 0
Crowd; 6249 @ Bluetongue Stadium