FINALLY it was fourth time lucky. The Mariners are the champions of the A-League after breaking Western Sydney's hearts with a 2-0 win in the grand final at Allianz Stadium.

Goals in each half from two of Graham Arnold's old-stagers, Patrick Zwaanswijk and Daniel McBreen, proved enough to end the Wanderers' 13-match unbeaten run.

So typically of finals, the starting whistle cut through the hype only for the players to find the occasion dragging them down. Hindered by a rugged surface, the two best structured sides in the league knew exactly what each other would do, and chances were as prized as the last train home.

In the first half, there was one glorious opportunity apiece before the deadlock was broken. The Mariners went first, with Trent Sainsbury's wonderfully measured pass over 40m allowing Mile Sterjovski to turn the Wanderers back four - reaching the ball a fraction ahead of goalkeeper Ante Covic, Sterjovski watched his lob bounce on to the bar and over, 2cm from glory.

GALLERY: A-League grand final in pictures

In the 20th minute it was Ono with the raking pass, this time down the Wanderers left and setting Mark Bridge free. Turning on to his right foot Bridge crossed perfectly for Dino Kresinger at the far post but the Croatian butchered the opportunity with a horribly ill-timed header.

The Mariners responded with the move of the game, a sweeping one-touch construction involving John Hutchinson ,Daniel McBreen and Josh Rose. The latter fired in a low cross that Bernie Ibini was millimetres away from converting with his outstretched boot.

Just as it looked as if the half would end goalless, the Mariners won a corner on the the left, which McGlinchey swung across for Zwaanswijk to meet with a thumping header into the top corner.

For those seeking omens it was the first time in four grand finals the Mariners had scored in the first half, and came via the oldest player to score in any football final in this country. For a player seeking a new contract, the symbolism was as well timed as his leap.

Oddly though the goal persuaded the Mariners to sit back, content to be compact and forcing the Wanderers to find a way through two massed lines of defence. Ono's clever dummy pass allowed Cole to put in a wicked cross on the hour, that Mat Ryan had to palm away under his own bar, then at the other end Sterjovski volleyed a bouncing ball just a fraction over.

The margins were wafer thin, but suddenly the Mariners had the chance to seal the game. McBreen chased a hopeful ball to the byline and as he jostled with Jerome Polenz the German defender handled the ball. McBreen's penalty was lashed into the top corner and the Mariners were 20 minutes from glory.

Mariners captain John Hutchinson dedicated the win to the club's long-suffering fans.

"It's amazing," he said.

"It means a lot to us but it means more than a lot to the fans.

"There was a fantastic atmosphere and the team slogged it out."

Goalkeeper Mat Ryan said the win was for the losing grand final teams that had come before them.

"There's no better feeling in football," he said.

"This victory goes out to the boys who have been here before."

Mariners coach Graham Arnold said the scars of his side's dramatic loss in the 2010/11 grand final were now gone.

"I'm very happy right now," he said.

"We had to learn how to win a grand final the hard way.

"We used it as motivation, we never wanted to feel like that again.

media_camera Daniel McBreen jumps for joy as the Central Coast Mariners celebrate winning the A-League grand final. Picture: Philip Hillyard

"It was the worst feeling ever after the Brisbane grand final. I'm just so happy for the boys."

Wanderers skipper Michael Beauchamp said: "It's amazing the amount of support we have had but it doesn't take away from the pain at the moment.

"Credit to the Mariners, they finished off their chances."

- with AAP

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 2 (Patrick Zwaanswijk 44m, Daniel McBreen 68m pen) bt WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 0 at Allianz Stadium. Crowd: 42,102. Referee: Peter Green.

Check out how the A-League grand final was won with David Davutovic's match blog below.

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media_camera Mariners defender Patrick Zwaanswijk leaps highest to head home the opening goal of the match. Picture: Robert Cianflone

Originally published as Mariners are A-League champions