Clint Bolton of the Heart cant stop Pedj Bojic's strike. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source: Herald Sun
AN expertly taken Pedj Bojic set piece has consigned a cagey Melbourne Heart to a second successive loss.
The 51st minute strike handed Central Coast Mariners a 1-0 win in front of 6357 at AAMI Park and leaves Heart without a win since its opening round derby triumph.
After a sluggish start Heart came home strong and Josip Tadic and Richard Garcia both had chances to snatch equalisers, but the organised Mariners held out to again indicate it will be among the teams to beat this season.
The highlight for Heart was an impressive debut for winger Ben Garuccio, with John Aloisi handing him a first start at just 17 years and four months.
But with Dylan Macallister, Fred and Matt Thompson all succumbing to injury, Aloisi's hands were tied late in the game as Heart searched for a point.
Richard Garcia of the Heart and Joshua Rose of the MAriners both appeal for a penalty during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Heart and the Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park. Picture: Getty Images Source: The Daily Telegraph
Garcia had the game's first decent chance, getting in behind the Mariners defence but blasting across the face.
That was in the fourteenth minute but after a promisingly start the game soon ground to a halt.Both teams were structurally organised and made it hard for each other to break down, but the Mariners have mastered the art over two seasons now under Graham Arnold.
The Heart had particular issues navigating the ball through midfield with John Hutchinson and Nick Montgomery expertly patrolling the area just ahead of the defence in the Mariners' 4-2-3-1.
Perhaps hesitant after the 2-0 loss in Perth, Heart was conservative with its passing, always electing the easy option sideways or backwards when a riskier but potentially more rewarding pass was on offer ahead.
The movement could have been better in midfield too and the man paraded to the AAMI Park crowd - Vince Grella - will certainly make a difference when fit.
Macallister was replaced eight minutes before half time by Croatian striker Tadic.
But the best chance came at the other end with Mile Sterjovski's left-foot shot forcing a reflex save from Clint Bolton.
Heart re-emerged in the second half without skipper Fred (hamstring strain), with Mate Dugandzic coming on and filling the hole just behind the striker and he looked threatening.
However the news got worse six minutes later when Mariners full back Bojic curled a set piece over the wall, with Bolton only managing to get fingertips to it.
Tadic, whose movement was intelligent up front, looked set to equalise in the 65th minute but Matt Ryan kept his feet long enough to block the shot.
And Ryan was equal to the task with Garcia's diving header just moments later.
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