The Wellington Phoenix have overcome a poor start to beat Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in Gosford for the visitors’ first win of the season.

On Saturday evening Phoenix defender Tom Doyle put through his own net for an own goal after 12 minutes, but the Wellington side equalised through McGlinchey 10 minutes before half-time.

The Phoenix had been awarded a penalty after Jacob Poscoliero tripped striker Jeremy Brockie in the area.

Brockie hammered the spot-kick off the crossbar, but McGlinchey was on hand to head the rebound into the bottom right corner of the net against his former club.

It remained 1-1 at half-time, but the visitors took the lead nine minutes into the second half.

Doyle crossed the ball in from the left, Brockie headed the ball back across goal from the far post, and Nathan Burns was there to slot it home from a couple of metres out.

The Mariners refused to give in, and they tried hard to fashion an equaliser.

Nick Fitzgerald started and nearly finished a great move for the home side with 12 minutes left, but his header came back off the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Two minutes later the Mariners missed another chance when Poscoliero had shot blocked by a Wellington defender.

In the end the Phoenix hung on to grab the three points.