The Mariners were coming off a seven week streak without losing, while the Gold Coast were aiming to bounce back from a 4-0thrashing at the hands of Melbourne, and both sides had the opportunity to create a three point buffer for the top three on the ladder.

Mariners manager Lawrie McKinna admitted the three points were there for the taking, after leading 1-0 for so long at Skiled Park after Matt Simon's first half goal.

But goals from Shane Smeltz and youth league ace Andrew Barisic cost the Mariners their win and gave Gold Coast a deperately needed morale-boosting victory.

"Speaking to the boys after the game, we felt like we were in full control and under no pressure whatsoever," said McKinna.

"The first goal, Brad Porter tried to steal a ball when he probably didn't need to, then the cross has come in and it was a typical Smeltz goal.

"The second goal was Heff's (Dean Heffernan). It was a bad pass back, they capitalized on it and got a tap in, so we definitely gave it away, because it was comfortable."

He added: "Coming here and dominating a large part of the game and to be in control when they basically had a full team out there, the boys handled it well.

"Everything we wanted to do well we did, the only thing we could have done when we had them in the second half and were comfortable was be a little bit more ruthless. We were very comfortable with the ball instead of maybe going for it.

"We just have to take the positive stuff out. Heff's not going to make a mistake like that again, and nine times out of ten the defence is going to show the strikers away from goal and not try to steal it.

"On another night we could have gone on and won two or three- nil quite comfortably, but it's a cruel game sometimes, and we feel as though it was cruel to us tonight."