Nisbet scored a wonderful goal, his second in two games, then turned provider for teammate Ronald Barcellos to set up Sunday's victory at Campbelltown Stadium.
Though just 160cm, the 24-year-old has arguably been the league's best midfielder this season after moving into an attacking role, with seven assists and two goals to date.
Nisbet will hope that can earn a call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon in Western Sydney and Canberra later this month.
Central Coast, who leapfrogged Wellington on wins, have won four ALM games on the bounce while juggling their successful AFC Cup campaign.
Olyroos defender Jacob Farrell came off at halftime after injuring his right knee sliding in to meet a through-ball in the 11th minute.
The Mariners fly to India on Monday for the second leg of their AFC Cup zonal semi-final against Odisha, holding a 4-0 lead.
Fourth-placed Macarthur were lucky not to finish with 10 players after skipper Ulises Davila flew in on Barcellos in the 22nd minute and caught him flush in the lower leg with his studs, but somehow only received a yellow card.
The Mariners took the lead in the eighth minute when Nisbet took a wonderful right-footed touch to trap Mikael Doka's squaring ball at the edge of the box, then spun onto his left and ripped a strike into the top corner.
Eleven minutes later, Davila lost the ball and it fell to Nisbet, who slipped through Barcellos, who coolly finished past Filip Kurto.
In the 49th minute, Angel Torres's poor penalty, after Matt Jurman was harshly penalised for handball, was comfortably saved by Kurto.
A minute later, Valere Germain wanted a penalty, believing he'd been dragged down by Brad Tapp at a corner, but nothing was forthcoming.
Central Coast effectively wrapped up three points in the 55th minute when Nisbet released Doka, who charged forward then teed up new signing Ryan Edmondson to score.
Striker Alou Kuol had to come in the 67th minute, five minutes after entering the fray following a nasty head clash with Kealey Adamson.
The Mariners then sealed captain Danny Vukovic's 100th ALM clean sheet.
