Goals in each half from Marcelo Carrusca and defender Craig Goodwin did the job for Josip Gombau's men after Anthony Caceres had given the visitor a surprise lead.
The result saw the Reds jump from fifth to third spot behind Wellington Phoenix on goal difference, having played a game more.
Defeat, however, virtually ended any lingering play-off hopes the eighth-placed Mariners may have nurtured.
Former Reds wideman Fabio Ferreira, who had missed the last clash between the sides over a controversial 'gentleman's agreement' between former Mariners boss Phil Moss and Gombau, was unleashed on this occasion by Central Coast's interim boss Tony Walmsley.
And he made an immediate impact, cutting inside before firing a curling drive just over Eugene Galekovic's crossbar as he sought to add to his tally of three goals in four games for his new club.
The game exploded into life in the 23rd minute when Caceres rifled home his first goal of the season from just outside the box after taking advantage of a mix up in a dithering Reds defence.
But the Mariners' joy was shortlived, with Argentine dangerman Carrusca picking up possession on the edge of the area and dummying his way past two defenders before steering home a perfectly placed left-footed effort past keeper Liam Reddy for the equaliser.
The Reds began the second half brightly with Michael Marrone cheekily back-heeling the ball into the path of Sergio Cirio who brought a smart reaction save from Reddy.
New Socceroos call-up Tarek Elrich then played in Carrusca with a delightful lofted ball on the hour, but the striker's first touch let him down and the chance was lost.
Five minutes later Carrusca bent a free-kick just wide with Reddy rooted to his goal-line.
Goodwin made his crucial contribution in the 67th minute as his right-footed shot took a wicked deflection off defender Zac Anderson to send the ball looping over the head of a wrong-footed Reddy.
Reds midfielder Jimmy Jego was denied in the dying minutes as Reddy leapt to his right to somehow keep out his well directed header.
Central Coast defender Josh Rose flashed a shot just wide in stoppage time as its final throw of the dice.
Gombau said he was delighted Adelaide was able to recover from a slow start and equalise within minutes of Central Coast's opener and hold on for the victory.
"I think the first half wasn't so good but the second half was better," Gombau said. "For me the key moment is the moment they score and one minute later we score.
"We did very good in Wellington and we did not get the result and today maybe we don't play this good and we get the result."
Walmsley lamented his side's failure to maintain its lead after United drew level within two minutes.
"We went at them quickly and got a goal and probably deserved the lead at that stage," Walmsley said.
"I suppose (I am) very disappointed to concede so soon after. It could've been one that we could've held on with."
