Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Melbourne Victory

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Melbourne Victory scored twice in three minutes in the last five minutes to beat a 10-man Central Coast Mariners side 2-1 away at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford this evening.

The Mariners had taken the lead in the 48th minute through an own-goal by Adrian Leijer, but goals by Diogo Ferreira in the 85th minute and Grant Brebner in the 87th gave the visitors an important win.

The Mariners had been reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute when Adam Kwasnik was shown a second yellow card for dissent.

Victory were under pressure in the first half and only two fine saves by goalkeeper Michael Petkovic kept the match goalless.

Three minutes after the break, fullback Joshua Rose attacked down the left and beat substitute Ferreira before knocking a curling ball in towards the near post where Leijer, under pressure from Kwasnik, turned the ball into his own net.

Kevin Muscat was lucky not to concede a penalty when he missed the ball in a lunging tackle and brought down an opponent, while it was his tackle on Kwasnik that led to the latter complaining and being dismissed.

Five minutes from the end, Victory drew level following Ricardinho

A recent flick through my photographic files uncovered the above photo of the George Town United side of 1984.

George Town United won the Northern top-flight title that season, their first since 1970.

The photo was taken at George Town before the State premiership match against southern champions Juventus Pioneeer, which was contested over two legs.

Juventus won 2-0 to win the State title 4-0 on aggregate.

This was a fine era for George Town United, who had won the Cadbury Trophy a couple of seasons earlier.

New Zealander Peter Davidson is second from the left in the back row, while Liam Monagle is second from the right in the back row and Peter Sawdon is to his left.

Gary Pennicott, father of South Hobart

Olympia Warriors are currently training three days a week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays - in preparation for the 2011 season and the forthcoming visit of South Melbourne Hellas.

Adelaide United 2-0 Sydney FC

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Second-placed Adelaide United beat bottom-side Sydney FC 2-0 at the Adelaide Oval tonight to move to within 8 points of A-League leaders Brisbane Roar.

Adelaide meet Roar at Hindmarsh Stadium on 2 January in a top-of-the-table clash.

Reigning champions Sydney remain last, a point adrift of North Queensland Fury and are now almost certainly out of contention for a place in the finals, being 9 points out of the top-six.

The win broke Adelaide