Brisbane Roar outscored the Mariners 5-3 in this good old battle of the cellar dwellers. With no relegation or promotion, there’s a school of thought that says these games don’t mean enough.

But that’s just for the fans. The players can’t afford this sort of thinking. They’re playing for contracts and on this showing, both team's defenders should be sweating. These two teams showed that they’re not bottom of the league because they can’t score. They’re bottom because they can’t defend.

Jaimie Young proved to be the difference. He prevented this from being a 5-5 draw. The Mariners had some really good chances but the Brisbane keeper was just too strong.

The referee played his part as well tonight, sending off two Mariners and making a few contentious non-decisions. 

Central Coast Mariners

Ben Kennedy - 5

Was the lesser of the two goalkeepers on display tonight. He should have done better with Mikkelson’s gorgeous header and he should have kept out Lopez’s second.

Sam Graham - 4

Not a great night for defenders. Central Coast just didn’t track the runs from the midfield. This is one of the most important defensive disciplines and the Mariners were simply all at sea.

Jonothan Aspropotamitis - 4.5

Caught flat footed for Mikkelsen’s goal. He’s got to do better for a central defender.

Kye Rowles - 4.5

Made some uncompromising tackles but let too many Brisbane attackers run passed him. 

Matthew Millar - 8

He looked very dangerous down the right in the first half and nearly put away a header.

Aiden O’Neill - 4

He was very lucky not to get an early yellow card for a very clumsy and somewhat brutal smackdown on Wenzel-Halls. He took a very impressive shot early in the game and this proved to be an early sighter for his goal. He ruined what would have been a good performance with a red card. You can’t let your team down like that.  

Jem Karacan - 7

If Central Coast had have had him from the start of the season things might have been different. He was calm, confident and classy in the midfield.

Stephen Mallon - 6.5

Good showing from the loanee. He needed to get a bit more of the ball but he was direct and dangerous when he did get it.

Andrew Hoole - 7

He created a lot of good chances tonight and just needed his team to keep their cool a bit more.

Connor Pain - 7.5

Excellent header for the Mariner’s first goal. He’s been in good form this season but he’s found that form in a bad team.

Matt Simon - 3

He’s just not quite up to the pace of the game and this fuels his frustration. He talked his way into the referee’s notebook and spent the night raging against the injustice of Stephen Lucas’s oppressive regime. 

He should have scored several times but couldn’t find the corners. He deserved a penalty or two but didn’t win over his nemesis. Finally the frustration saw him see red.

Subs

Jordan Murray 6

Came off the bench and found the back of the net. It will be interesting to see how the Mariners look with him up front instead of Simon. 

Jacob Melling - N/A

Brisbane Roar

Jaimie Young 7.5

He conceded three but he was still a big reason why Brisbane won this game. He made some great saves and couldn’t do much with the ones he did let passed.

Dane Ingham N/A

The poor guy didn’t last very long tonight. He pulled up lame within the first twenty minutes. Luckily for Brisbane, CCM didn’t really exploit the early weakness.

Jacob Pepper 5

The Mariners were able to break through the Brisbane defence too many times.

Ruon Tongyik 6

Tonight he was less a footballer and more of a wrestler. He spent most of his time on the pitch swapping sweat with Matt Simon. He dealt with everything the lanky veteran threw at him.

Daniel Bowles 5

He somehow managed to avoid conceding a penalty when he pushed Simon under a header. He was clumsy a few too many times as well.

Alex Lopez 8

Wonderful technique for the second Brisbane goal. He was involved in a lot of Brisbane’s good attacking play.

Henrique 8

Hyuandai must have installed a reversing camera onto Henrique’s head because the Brazillian played more backheels than forward passes tonight. And they hit their mark too. He deserved a goal for all his hard work and great link up play but when he had the chance he blazed over.

Matt Mackay 6

He was Brisbane’s quietest midfielder. In a more defensive role he really shouldn’t have let so many Mariners link up with Hoole and Simon.

Eric Bauthéac 8.5

Scored one of the goals of the season tonight. He also provided a perfect assist for Mikkelsen and could have scored another couple himself. This was the sort of performance his team needs from him every game.

Dylan Wenzel-Halls 7.5

Brisbane have found a really good little player here. He looked dangerous all night and provided a great assist for Bauthéac to bicycle it home. When you’re playing well and your confidence is high you do get a bit of luck. Dylan Wenzel-Halls

Tobias Mikkelsen 7

His headed goal was an excellent attacking run. Not enough attackers make front post runs these days.

Subs

Izaak Powell - 6

He had an early introduction after Ingham’s injury. He did well up against the impressive Mariner’s wingers and even managed to begin a few good counter-attacks.

Daniel Leck - N/A

Despite having a decent amount of time on the pitch he didn’t get involved enough.

Thomas Kristensen - N/A

He didn’t get much time at all.