Jets snatch derby victory from the devastated Mariners

A last gasp winner from substitute Franco Parisi has given the Newcastle Jets a priceless 1-0 victory over their fierce local rivals the Central Coast Mariners at Energy Australia Stadium this evening.

In what had been a hotly contested match with few clear cut chances the Mariners looked certain to leave Newcastle with a well deserved point, until Jets striker Parisi sent the home fans into raptures with one of the easiest goals of his career in the 88th minute.

The Central Coast were unchanged following their excellent 4-0 home victory over Perth last weekend while the Jets made just the one change after their equally impressive away win in Adelaide, youngster Jobe Wheelhouse coming into the midfield at the expense of the more experienced Paul Kohler.

And the opening exchanges were largely unproductive for both sides with the major feature being the nervous start for Jets goalkeeper Liam Reddy, handling the ball outside his area only for the referee to overlook the infringement and award only a corner.

The goalkeeper's unusually shaky beginning continued moments later when he dropped an ostensibly straight forward Heffernan cross through his own legs, but managed to pounce on the loose ball before a waiting O'Sullivan could capitalise.

Tommy Pondeljak then did his best to emulate Thierry Henry with a quick free kick often found with the famous Frenchman, but this time Reddy made the stop comfortably to restore some much needed confidence,

Despite their lack of early attacking penetration Newcastle were very close to claiming the most fortuitous of opening goals with a scuffed Milicic effort bouncing off the crossbar, but the desperation of the visiting defenders saw the danger averted.

At the other end the Mariners resumed their attacking dominance with some typically slick passing movements, one such passage of play ending with Stewart Petrie heading wide from an accurate Osman cross when left completely unmarked in the six yard box.

Ante Milicic was typically bullish before the match regarding his importance to the Newcastle cause and he was looking to back up his words with actions as he cut inside well but the former Parramatta target man fired a rather tame left footed shot wide from the edge of the area.

Set pieces were promising to be important yet again in the fledgling A-League and following another mistake from Reddy from a Heffernan free kick it was Pondeljak with the clever cross only for the Scotsman Petrie to head wide again.

Simply sublime link up play from Andre Gumprecht, Pondeljak and O'Sullivan saw the German playmaker bursting through on goal but again desperate defending kept the Mariners out and Newcastle could breathe once more.

The best attacking moment of the half then arrived courtesy of Central Coast skipper Noel Spencer when the influential midfielder unleashed a trademark powerful strike and a helpless Liam Reddy was relieved to see it fly past the post.

There was still time for another excellent Mariners attempt as Gumprecht surged into the area and produced a fierce volley across the face of goal but once again the ball stayed out of the net and Reddy would have been delighted to go into the break with his clean his in tact.

Newcastle boss Richard Money turned 50 during the week and in an effort to celebrate the milestone with a win he decided to make a tactical change at the break, sending on his no nonsense midfielder Paul Kohler on for the young Wheelhouse.

Ante Milicic was left disappointed not to add to his season's tally just after the resumption of play, his free header sailing over Vukovic's bar following an inviting Matt Thompson corner.

Dean Heffernan was also looking to continue his goal scoring form of recent weeks from the left of midfield and after collecting a loose ball the man known as 'Sonic' to his fans turned his marker and tried his luck with his less favoured right foot only for Reddy to claim easily.

Heffernan then showed a touch of class with an inventive back heel down the left to Gumprecht, but the dynamic midfielder's cross evaded Petrie in the centre to the frustration of the Mariners bench.

Chances began to dry up considerably at both ends as the fitness of Ante Milicic in particular was coming under scrutiny, the star striker pulling another tired looking shot well wide.

Meanwhile Central Coast coach Lawrie McKinna looked to freshen up his attack by throwing Adam Kwasnik into the fray for former Dunfermline man Petrie, the youthful striker immediately trying his luck with a wayward strike high over the bar.

One of the games potentially decisive moments then arrived in the Mariners box as after turning well Milicic was seemingly tugged back by Osman, but the Socceroo front man was left in utter disbelief at the lack of a penalty award.

Nick Carle was largely being shackled by the Central Coast midfield however as the game entered the final 10 minutes he saw the need for three points and raised his urgency, linking well with Milicic before terrifically creating the space to test Vukovic only to strike the ball straight at the young keeper.

Just as the game seemed destined for a draw the ball broke favourably to Ante Milicic in plenty of space, and when the striker managed to knock the ball past Vukovic it left the substitute Franco Parisi all alone in the six yard box to fire home into an empty net and bring the Newcastle fans to their feet.

The game predictably opened up in the final few minutes as the Mariners chased an equaliser and Nick Carle had the chance to wrap up the points when he was set free in the area, only to flash his shot wide and keep the faint hopes of the Central Coast alive.

The travelling Mariners fans were just hoping for one more chance to restore parity and it came courtesy of Heffernan, but the midfielder's right footed shot flew agonisingly wide of Reddy's post and the visitors knew it was all over.

Nick Carle had time for another fabulous chance after a nice flick from Parisi saw him clean through on goal, but his shot with the outside of his right foot missed by inches and the Jets would have to settle for the one goal victory.

Newcastle will hope to continue their winning run next weekedn as they make they daunting trip to face Sydney FC next while the Mariners will look to make amends across the Tasman against a struggling New Zealand outfit.

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