Wellington Phoenix have gone four points clear on top of the A-League ladder, getting their first win in Brisbane in unusual circumstances, while a Nick Montgomery stunner helped the Mariners salvage a draw against Perth Glory in Gosford.

The Phoenix were leading the game 2-1 in the 73rd minute at Suncorp Stadium but torrential rain saw the ground become unplayable, forcing officials to call the match off, which prompted vehement protests from the Roar players along with displeasure from their fans in the stands.

Referee Alan Milliner abandoned the game in the 73rd minute, with the result at the time standing to give the Phoenix their first ever win at Suncorp Stadium in front of 10,075 brave fans.

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An FFA match official explained: “It was the score at the time. If the game had been stopped before halftime it would have been a replay.”

Brisbane’s Andrija Kaluderovic put the home side ahead after just five minutes, poking in a cross from left-back Corey Brown to complete a clinical counter attack from the Roar.

After a parade of chances, Michael McGlinchey finally restored parity for the Phoenix after 15 minutes, although all the credit for the goal should go to Burns.

Then just moments before the halftime whistle, Burns pounced to put Wellington 2-1 up.

The Phoenix are now four points ahead of Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and Perth Glory, who are all tied in second place on 38 points.

The result also puts a dent in Brisbane’s finals hopes, particularly after Melbourne City’s surprise win over Sydney FC on Saturday.

The Roar remain seventh, but are five points behind City and have the added burden of an AFC Champions League campaign to contend with as the A-League season reaches the home stretch.

Central Coast players celebrate Nick Montgomery’s goal to salvage a draw against Perth Glory. Photo: Getty

Meanwhile in Gosford, a headed goal from Glory substitute Jamie Maclaren 11 minutes from the end seemed set to be enough for the visitors to secure a barely-deserved victory until Montgomery’s eleventh-hour interception.

Despite aiming to regain top spot on the A-League ladder, the Glory looked anything but title contenders and struggled to find fluency with the Mariners dominating possession and looking far more dangerous going forward.

Mariners attacker Nick Fitzgerald twice came close, firstly squirting a shot inches over the bar and then hitting the post after pouncing on a Dino Djulbic defensive error.

The Mariners comfortably had more time on the ball but the Glory were not without chances to break the deadlock, most notably a sweet Nebojsa Marinkovic strike was impressively tipped onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Liam Reddy.

The Glory’s creative players were rarely involved, with striker Andy Keogh invariably left to plough a lone furrow up front.

But it was the Glory who took the lead with a set-piece as Maclaren perfectly deflected a near-post header past Reddy from a Marinkovic corner.

But Montgomery ensured the spoils were shared with his sweet 30-metre strike in the second of four added minutes.