The problem is the Phoenix have to deal with expectation these days. Expectation they will win, and win well. At times yesterday it looked like players were trying too hard, and composure in front of goal went missing - although Liam Reddy was inspired in the Mariners goal.
Before this match, only the Melbourne Victory had scored more goals than the Phoenix, who are playing with an attacking verve rarely seen in the club's history. It looked ominous for the visitors in the first half as the Phoenix - wearing a special strip to commemorate the latest Hobbit movie - cut through the Mariners' defence at will. Indeed, at times it resembled a scene from The Battle of the Five Armies, as the Phoenix laid siege and Central Coast often defended with everyone behind the ball.
"We rode our luck today and they gave us the run-around in first half," said Mariners coach Phil Moss. "But we defended our box like our lives depended on it."
The Phoenix should have been two or three goals up in the first half hour. Louis Fenton was continually finding space on the right flank and Roy Krishna was creating havoc with his late runs. And Michael McGlinchey was in inspired form, months after the messy divorce from the Mariners, with his inventive passing and twisting runs.
But it all came to nothing. Roly Bonevacia, Alex Rodriguez, Nathan Burns and Krishna all missed good chances, and Reddy stood tall against his old team.
The Mariners took a surprise lead in the 40th minute. Mariners striker Matt Simon reacted first to sweep in the rebound after Moss couldn't handle a long-range Nick Fitzgerald shot.
It felt like the Mariners had employed Muhammad Ali's famous 'Rope a Dope' strategy and hit the Phoenix with a classic counter-punch.
"It can happen in football," McGlinchey said. "We were pushing and pushing and completely dominating and then they get one."
The pattern continued in the second half but, as it often the case, the harder teams try, the more difficult it seems to score.
McGlinchey scuffed a shot after good work by Fenton, and Krishna blazing over after being sent through by Manny Muscat.
It looked like the breakthrough would never come - even the accomplished Bonevacia lost the ball under his feet when set free in the area - before a piece of Krishna magic brought the crowd to their feet.
Pursuing a delightful McGlinchey chip, Krishna sped past his marker and in one motion brought the ball down and swept it past the onrushing Reddy, the Fijian scoring for the fourth consecutive game.
There were some further chances but no more celebrations for the disappointing 11,051 crowd, which will put future games at Eden Park in doubt.
Wellington Phoenix 1 (R. Krishna)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (M. Simon). Halftime: 0-1.
A-LEAGUE
• Wellington Phoenix: 1
• Central Coast Mariners:1
