Christmas cheer will be in sort supply for the Mariners after another frustrating night at the office saw Lawrie McKinna's men lose 1-0 against southern rivals Sydney FC at the Football Stadium.

A sublime Alex Brosque goal late in the first-half was the difference as the Mariners boss was left to contemplate a missed opportunity:

"We started off well enough but we never supported our front men. We didn't make runs beyond like Sydney did."

The Mariners, looking to avoid an unwanted record of four straight defeats - something that had never happened to the club in the history of the A-League - started well with Dylan Macallister and Alex Wilkinson testing Clint Bolton early on.

Macallister, Nigel Boogaard and Matt Simon were all prominent as the Mariners pressed forward, but it was the home side that took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

McFlynn threaded the ball to BROSQUE, who curled the ball beautifully into the net from the edge of the area.

Central Coast could have responded straight away through Simon, before Macallister missed arguably the best chance of the game immediately after the restart.

The visitors had strong penalty appeals waved away in the 70th minute when Byun appeared to handle Wilkinson's goal-bound effort.

Boogaard wasted the Mariners last chance to equalise, but he headed over from a Nicky Travis corner, which ultimately consigned Central Coast to a disappointing defeat.