CENTRAL Coast Mariners emphatically ended their slow start to the A-League season with a 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium in Wellington yesterday.

The Mariners backed up after last week's season-first victory over Perth Glory with another solid showing after the first half had provided a scoreless mish-mash of half-taken chances.

Head-to-head: Manny Muscat (left) of the Phoenix and Central Coast's Joshua Rose vie for the ball. Credit:Getty Images

Both teams attacked the second stanza with more intent, with the Mariners showing better composure in front of goal. Barely three minutes after the restart, teenage striker Bernie Ibini put the visitors up 1-0, latching onto a well-placed cross from Matt Simon which bobbled under Phoenix goalkeeper Tony Warner.

Ibini had proved a real handful for the Phoenix defence in the first half.