Maclaren hat-trick leads Melbourne City over Mariners in goalfest

A brace for Jordan Murray of Central Coast Mariners was beaten by a hat-trick for Jamie Maclaren as Melbourne City claimed a 4-2 win in their A-league clash in Gosford.

Jamie Maclaren of Melbourne City celebrates the goal in a game played behind closed doors Source: Getty Images

The game was played behind closed doors in Gosford, with a handful of fans watching the match from outside the stadium.

The match got off to a hot start with the Central Coast Mariners opening the scoring in the second minute.

Jordan Murray capitalised on a sow reaction from the Melbourne City defence and finished cooly to open the scoring in Gosford.

The response was immediate, with a searching run and through ball from Markel Susaeta perfect to see Jamie Maclaren slip through the Mariners' defensive line and score with a strong finish.

Melbourne City didn't let up there and flooded forward in a strong show of force, taking the lead through Susaeta as he got on the end of a Craig Noone cross to head home.

That was the way the score remained until half-time, with Melbourne City the main team to threaten the goal.

The second half was played in a similar fashion to the first, and a lapse in marking in the Central Coast defensive third and a failed clearance allowed Maclaren to poke his second in with his toe to push Melbourne City to a 3-1 lead.

The Mariners threatened to make a game of it as a tantalising Chris Harold cross was powered home by the head of Murray, but Maclaren was quick to complete his hattrick to make sure of the game result for Melbourne City.