Mariners out to entertain the A-League

Central Coast boss Tony Warmsley won't be discouraged by another away loss, sticking to his goal of turning the Mariners into the A-League's best entertainers.

The Mariners lost 3-1 at AAMI Park courtesy of a Bruno Fornaroli double, but there were positive signs in the defeat.

Rarely could a manager have been so cheery after a 3-1 defeat, but the former Mariners youth team coach wouldn't be deflated.

"I'm getting a lot of feedback from everybody within the club and without the club that this is what we want," Walmsley said.

"It's all music to my ears that it was an entertaining game because that's what we're all about.

"We know we take certain risks playing that style and there will be times where it doesn't work out. I feel entertained but it didn't go our way so we move on to the next one.

The next one is the Mariners' biggest game of the season so far; a visit of Sydney FC on Saturday.

For Walmsley, there's a personal connection and he hopes the combination of their entertaining style and big-name visitors makes for a memorable Gosford day out.

"It captures the imagination a little bit ... we're pitting ourselves against the club with a mansion and we're inviting them to our three sided house," he said.

"I worked under Arnie, Hutch (assistant coach John Hutchinson) ... in a championship winning team.

"I'm really looking forward to it ... a 12 to 15 thousand crowd at Gosford and that place is humming."

The one sour note Walmsley identified was a late goal to Nick Fitzgerald - who scored the Mariners' goal after 14 minutes - which was ruled out due to offside.

"To the ref, if he wants to buy into entertaining football as well, let it stand, 3-2 and finish the game off a bit brighter," he only half-joked.

"But he dashed my hopes, bless him."