Phoenix steal point from Mariners

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Sneaking up ... Danny Sanchez keeps Nick Montgomery at bay. Source: ROSS SETFORD / AAP

A-League leaders Central Coast extend their unbeaten streak to nine games, but couldn't shake off a determined Wellington, who fought back for a dogged 1-1 draw at Westpac Stadium.

The struggling Phoenix put together a vastly improved performance but looked set for their their third successive defeat after in-form Mariners striker Daniel McBreen's 44th minute goal - his 10th of the season.

However, Wellington treated the 5961-strong crowd to an excellent late fightback, a Dani Sanchez header levelling the scores in the 83rd minute.

Wellington kept pace with the competition leaders for much of the first half, 19-year-old striker Louis Fenton looking particularly dangerous down the right flank.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	12	8	3	1	13	27
2	Adelaide	12	8	1	3	5	25
3	Victory	12	6	2	4	-2	20
4	Western Sydney	12	6	1	5	5	19
5	Perth	12	5	2	5	3	17
6	Newcastle	12	5	1	6	-7	16
7	Wellington	12	3	4	5	-1	13
8	Heart	12	3	3	6	-3	12
9	Brisbane	12	3	2	7	-1	11
10	Sydney	12	3	1	8	-12	10

Coach Ricki Herbert praised his combination with 17-year-old Tyler Boyd and the experienced Jeremy Brockie more than compensated for the absence of Paul Ifill, who is out for at least a month following ankle surgery.

"The young boys in there really set a benchmark for this club,'' Herbert said.

"They shifted the ball well tonight, and ran a really positive performance.''

Mariners coach Graham Arnold echoed Herbert saying the rookies played a key role in galvanising the Phoenix up front as the Wellington club works towards a more attacking style of football.

"I was very impressed with their young boys, who really gave them some mobility and speed up front and energy.

"You can see they're trying to play a different style as well, and you've got to give them full credit.''

The Mariners' composure in midfield, marshalled by skipper John Hutchinson, proved hard to break.

The Phoenix looked to have done enough to go into halftime on even terms only to pay the price for not clearing their line with the Mariners hot on attack.

Keeper Mark Paston could only parry Tom Rogic's initial strike, and although there was a hint of offside, McBreen finished clinically to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.

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Central Coast worked hard to put the Phoenix away after the restart, and although Wellington created chances, a lack of confidence in the final third meant the Mariners' goal was rarely threatened.

The Mariners continued to run hard, and Rogic was only denied by a superb Paston reflex save as he broke through clear on goal in the 72nd minute.

But substitute Benjamin Totori, who was a handful down the left with his pace following his injection in the 70th minute, sent in a taunting cross in the 83rd minute, and Sanchez looped his header high over keeper Mathew Ryan for Wellington to salvage the draw.

Arnold said they were lucky to escape with a point as the resurgent Phoenix kept them under the hammer for the closing 15 minutes.

"I thought the first 75 minutes, we should have killed the game off and, the last 15, it was all Wellington,'' he said.

"In the first half, we had a number of good chances at 1-0 and, in the second half on the counter, we had two or three good chances.

"But in the end, we were lucky to get away with a point.''

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