Nik Mrdja's 39th minute penalty was cancelled out by Travis Dodd three minutes later, ensuring the make up of the bottom of the ladder remains unchanged.
 
"On another day, like over the last six weeks, we could have won the game," said Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna.
 
"We got a penalty, scored seven minutes before half time but the disappointing thing for us is we lost the ball under not a lot of pressure and credit to Adelaide, they've turned it around and got a goal out of it, but it was poor execution by us.

"When we came back out at the start of the second half Adelaide came at us with everything but as the game went on I felt as though we were getting more clear cut chances."

McKinna felt those inside Hindmarsh had been provided with a nervous finish.
 
"I think the 10-thousand people who were there tonight would have been on the edge of their seats because any team could have won it," said McKinna.
 
And McKinna insists there's a strong belief in the squad, that the finals series is by no means beyond the Yellow and Navy.
 
"There are probably some spots up for grabs. We've got 12 points to go for, and our boys were disappointed after the game but there was a thought that we came down here, deserved to win and hung in there, and it gives us something to play for over the next four weeks. We believe we can go and get 12 points," he said.
 
"We feel as though we've turned a corner. Coming to Adelaide, it doesn't matter how they are doing, it a hard place to come to get results."
 
The Mariners return to their Bluetongue Stadium home next Friday to face Gold Coast United, and McKinna is hoping for a big crowd to spur the Mariners on.
 
"We had a good little traveling support, the boys were great again," added McKinna. " Hopefully we get a big turn out next week and hopefully we can put in a solid 90 minutes like we did tonight.

"We'll be going home to hopefully give the supporters something to cheer about because we've only won one game at Bluetongue and our supporters deserve a (home) win and we'll be looking to give it to them next week."