Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar

In a possible psychological blow with the finals approaching, first-half goals from Erik Paartalu and Besart Berisha ensured Roar bounced back from last week's surprise home loss to Newcastle Jets.

The result also left the door slightly ajar for the Mariners to be run down in the race for the Premiers' Plate, with their lead cut to seven points ahead of second-placed Wellington.

Reigning premier and champion Brisbane sits one point behind Phoenix with seven games to play, though the Mariners have a game in hand on both of their nearest rivals.

Both sides were hit by Olyroos commitments with the Mariners missing in-form goalkeeper Mat Ryan, Mustafa Amini and Oliver Bozanic and Brisbane without midfielder Mitch Nichols.

Justin Pasfield started in goals for the home side but it was only five minutes before he was beaten, as Paartalu got the Roar off to an ideal start.

A Thomas Broich through ball found Nick Fitzgerald and the teenage midfielder's cut-back pass took a deflection off Alex Wilkinson, allowing Paartalu to finish with a precise side-footed shot.

Roar came close to doubling its advantage twice in the 18th minute, with Mariners left-back Josh Rose having to clear off the line and Broich sending a stunning, 25-metre drive into the right upright.

The Mariners pushed hard for an equaliser, with Troy Hearfield threatening on goal twice, while Roar looked unlucky not to have drawn a foul when Berisha was brought down by Patrick Zwaanswijk on the edge of the box.

The Albanian striker earned the ire of the 10,217 home fans for staying down long after the incident but he had the last laugh when he doubled Roar's lead in the 38th minute.

After some handy lead-up work from Broich and Massimo Murdocca, Berisha beat off Rose before getting away a fairly timid shot that Pasfield failed to stop.

After a dramatic few weeks in which he was suspended for his involvement in a post-match melee with Sydney FC, Berisha celebrated by running to the sidelines for a warm embrace with coach Ange Postecoglou.

A much-improved Roar remained in control throughout the second-half, with the Mariners unable to mount a comeback for the second straight match.

Their best chance fell to captain Wilkinson in the 64th minute, but he put a close range header across the face of goal.

Berisha should have added a third for Roar on the stroke of full-time, firing over goal from close range.