Coasters break Melbourne's heart

Fri 10 Sep

Central Coast Mariners joined Perth Glory and Adelaide United atop the A-League ladder with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a ten-man Melbourne Heart at Bluetongue Stadium.

Striker Daniel McBreen scored for the second successive week but it was a night to forget for Heart defender Michael Beauchamp against his former club.

Beauchamp was shown a straight red card by referee Peter Green in the 52nd minute after appearing to head-butt Mariners winger Oliver Bozanic.

The Australia defender had earlier spent 14 minutes of the first half on the sideline as Heart's medical staff tried to stem a flow of blood from his nose following a collision with Matt Simon.

In front of another disappointing crowd of 6326, McBreen scored with an excellent header at the far post in the 20th minute.

Simon, Michael McGlinchey and Pedj Bojic interplayed before the latter's cross found McBreen, who celebrated the birth of his first child Noah - born last Sunday - with a quick forty winks in front of Clint Bolton's goal.

McBreen scored the second of the Mariners' two goals in the win against Melbourne Victory in Gosford last Friday.

The win saw Graham Arnold's side temporarily join Perth and Adelaide on 11 competition points.

Arnold was delighted with his side's first hour of play but felt his charges dropped their intensity when Beauchamp was sent from the field.

"I wish (Michael) Beauchamp didn't get sent off," Arnold said.

"Because when he was it was like game over.'' - aap

Image by aap