Captain Scott Jamieson returned to action for the first time since breaking his toe in the 2-0 win in Sydney on March 17, while Bart Schenkenveld, who had missed the last two games, was also included.

Dario Vidosic, who had been out of action for several months with a back problem, made his first appearance of 2019, while fringe defender Iacopo La Rocca also got a chance to stake his claim for a finals berth and Kearyn Baccus, recovered from an illness, was in from the start. Goalkeeper James Delianov, a Young Socceroo goalkeeper, made his debut in place of Eugene Galekovic.

City dominated possession and looked the most threatening but it took a goal of singular individual brilliance from Shay Harrison to get them off the mark in the 35th minute.

The on-loan Tottenham striker picked up the ball wide on the left and dribbled into the Mariners penalty area; his touch and balance took him past Jacob Melling and Matt Millar, then he dropped a shoulder and went past Jem Karacan before sliding in a left-foot shot that hit the post and went in just a fraction of a second before Lachlan Wales could slide in and get the decisive touch.

City doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute and again it was a memorable finish.

Vidosic picked up the ball, fed Jamieson out wide and the full-back looped in a tantalising delivery which Riley McGree stuck first time with an excellent volley from close range.

Vidosic got on the scoresheet himself four minutes after the interval after some fine approach work by the lively Wales. The Young Socceroo forward produced a step over before rounding Tom Hiariej and sliding a pass across the face of goal for the former Socceroo midfielder to sweep home.

That was in the 49th minute, and then six minutes later Wales turned provider again, sliding a pass through to Harrison who got round Samuel Graham before shooting home under Adam Pearce in the Mariners goal.

Ramy Najjarine, with his first A-League goal, made it five in stoppage time when he unleashed a fierce drive from outside the area.

Sixteen-year-old Idrus Abdulahi became City’s youngest ever player when he came off the bench in the 81st minute.