Wins for Mariners and Glory

A rare Pedj Bojic brace secured the Central Coast Mariners a 2-0 win against the Melbourne Heart at Bluetongue Stadium. The triumph sees Central Coast (26 points) temporarily extend their lead at the top of the table to four points with second-placed Adelaide (22) playing Wellington on Sunday. The fun started for Bojic in the 49th minute after a calamitous error from Melbourne Heart goalkeeper Clint Bolton - one of the most consistent custodians in the A-League. A Bojic strike from 25 yards appeared to only require a regulation save but the ball slipped through Bolton's hands, then his legs and over the goal line. Bolton was seemingly unsighted 20 minutes later after a dipping Bojic free-kick passed the Melbourne Heart defensive wall and fired the Mariners to a fourth straight win. Elsewhere, a brace from Travis Dodd either side of half-time set Perth Glory on their way to a 3-0 win over the Newcastle Jets at nib Stadium. Shane Smeltz was also on target from the penalty spot, firing into the top corner after being brought down by Josh Mitchell in the area. Glory took the lead just before the break when Dodd pounced on a loose ball from Mitchell Oxborrow to run through and finish low past Matthew Nash. After Jacob Burns had stung the goalkeeper's hands with a long range strike a minute after the restart, Dodd doubled his side's lead as he was left unmarked six yards from goal to head home Liam Miller's cross. Newcastle threatened on occasion but their finishing lacked conviction, an accusation which couldn't be levelled at Smeltz who made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on 75 minutes.  The Jets almost pulled one back shortly after but Josh Risdon was well positioned on the goal line to clear Emile Heskey's header from a corner. The win moves Glory up to fourth spot with three games still to be played this weekend.