Central Coast Mariners have returned to the top of the National Youth League table, after an unconvincing 2-nil victory over the Australian Institute of Sport at Gosford. Two up by the 23rd minute, they failed to put the younger AIS students to 'the sword' - and are lucky that Sydney took 2 points off Glory in Perth.

In stifling humid conditions, with the thermometer in the high 30s, the game started with surprising vigour at the palm-tree enhanced bay-side stadium setting.

The Mariners drew first blood when in the 4th minute a fine pass from Nick Fitzgerald split the AIS defence, and Panni Nikas laid-off the ball for Gavin Forbes to just tap in. 1-0

AIS may have got one back minutes later except that the glancing header from Curtis Good was weak and well saved by Central Coast's custodian Nik Matic standing in goals for this game.

A free-kick from Panni Nikas, 25m out, was hit with venom but alas for the Mariners captain it went over the crossbar. AIS's best on the day, Terry Antonis, snuck in behind the Coast defensive line but couldn't quite bring down and capitalise on a cheeky chip in the 22nd minute.

More joy for the home side, who were dominating, when Nikas picked up a loose ball outside rthe area on the right and curled his shot off the inside of the left post. 2-0

Matthew Crowell, over-age player, was providing leadership, and decided to take an offensive opportunity himself. He struck a shot along the ground and it cannoned off the left upright at the 32 minute mark.

In the 39th minute lively AIS left-winger Kamal Ibrahim gave his side some hope when he got himself into a good position for a shot at the edge of the area - but his effort was too weak to trouble Matic.

In the 54th minute Antonis headed just wide off a corner from the right, and then two minutes later Fitzgerald's glancing header also passed the outside of the post.

The AIS were ringing in the 60 minutes 'youth carousel' changes and the fresh legs aided them to put sustained pressure on a static Mariners. Ibrahim snuck onto the left post but his header, under close attention, from a cross went back across goal rather than in.

In the 86th minute AIS substitute Kevin Davison muffed a chance to get his header into an open goal when Coast 'keeper Matic failed to control a high bouncing ball in his area.

In stoppage time Ibrahim slammed a free-kick from 22m over the cross-bar.

The AIS had made a game of it in the second half as the Mariners fell into a hole, putting out a poor performance that suggests they will have a mountain to climb to make let along win the Final.