The Central Coast Mariners have picked up their first home win in the A-League since September with a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Newcastle Jets.

Departing defender Nigel Boogaard broke the deadlock after 17 minutes before Adam Kwasnik added a second five minutes into the second half and Matt Simon completed the scoring in the 72nd minute. The three points moved the Mariners up to eighth, although they have nothing but pride to play for in their final game of the season this weekend with the sides in the top six having already been confirmed.

We've copped a lot of criticism for the poor run of results, but that is probably one of the most convincing games we've played against our local rivals in the five years.
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna

The visitors had dominated the opening stages but the Mariners took the lead with just over a quarter of an hour gone as Boogaard, who is to join Adelaide United at the end of the season, nodded home from Brad Porter's inswinging corner. Central Coast added a second in the 50th minute when Shane Huke's smart ball into the area found Kwasnik, who expertly lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Ben Kennedy and into the back of the net.

Newcastle's miserable day was compounded seven minutes later when Labinot Haliti was shown in his second yellow card for an intentional handball. The Mariners added a third with 18 minutes remaining, Simon grabbing his seventh goal of the season by turning home Brady Smith's pass.

The only blot on the copybook for the Mariners was the dismissal of midfielder Pedj Bojic in the 88th minute for a second bookable offence. "Over the last 10 weeks it's been hard, and in a lot of these games we feel as though we should have got a lot more out of but we never, and that's football, so to come to the last home game and get a very convincing win over Newcastle, our local rivals, is great," said Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna.

"I'm just happy for the players. They've worked hard all season and we've copped a lot of criticism for the poor run of results, but that is probably one of the most convincing games we've played against our local rivals in the five years."