>>>    click here to see the match pics  

More than 42,000 fans added plenty of colour to the occasion where strikes from veteran defender Patrick Zwaanswijk and A-League Golden Boot winner Daniel McBreen - who later won the Joe Marston Medal for best afield - separated the sides.

Premiers' Plate winners Western Sydney struggled to get their star men, mainly Shinji Ono, into the game, while they'll bemoan conceding their first goal from a set piece all season for Zwaanswijk's opener.

Jerome Polenz's handball for the Mariners' second, a penalty converted by McBreen on 69 minutes, was avoidable too, however in truth Wanderers were second best as their fairytale debut season came to a disappointing end.

Central Coast had the first of the chances in the ninth minute when Mile Sterjovski got in behind but his lob grazed the crossbar and went over.

After a tense and tight opening half hour, Bernie Ibini tested Ante Covic with a low drive, before the Mariners made the breakthrough on 44 minutes.

Zwaanswijk, who hadn’t scored during the 2012-13 campaign, arrived at pace to head home a corner to give Central Coast the lead.

Incredibly it was the first goal all season Western Sydney had conceded from a set piece and only the second headed goal they had allowed for the campaign.

However, Wanderers almost had a way back into the game barely a minute later when Pedj Bojic appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area, but referee Peter Green waved play on.

The Mariners started the second 45 more compact, with Wanderers finally carving out an opportunity on 59 minutes when Shinji Ono tested Mat Ryan with an angled effort.

Sterjovski went close again on 63 minutes when he lashed a volley narrowly over the bar with Covic stretching.

And the Mariners were soon two up, when Jerome Polenz handballed inside the box, with McBreen belting home the 69th minute spotkick emphatically.

With 20 minutes to go and a two-goal lead, the Mariners may have feared a repeat of two seasons ago when Brisbane Roar fought back from the same scoreline but Wanderers couldn't muster up such a response as Central Coast celebrated ending their years of Grand Final pain.

   >>>    click here to see the match pics