Jets snatch a draw

An 84th minute strike from Joel Griffiths has salvaged an unlikely 1-1 draw for nine man Newcastle in the local derby with the Central Coast Mariners tonight.

John Hutchinson had been the man to score the Mariners first goal of the season as the home side looked to be on the way to their first victory of the season, but the draw leaves both sides struggling at the wrong end of the Hyundai A-League table.

The main absentee for the Mariners was key midfielder Andre Gumprecht who was replaced by Jamie McMaster, while for the Jets Colombian import Milton Rodriguez made his first start following a two goal cameo against Sydney FC last week.

The Central Coast were extremely close to breaking their goal drought early as Tom Pondeljak cleverly flicked on a well worked corner, but the veteran Tony Vidmar managed to miss the target from close range when his first goal for the club seemed certain.

However the long awaited goal was only moments away.

Stewart Petrie playing wide on the left produced a well measured cross that was nudged back by Matthew Osman, and despite McMaster's header being initially saved Hutchinson managed to bundle home to the delight of the majority of fans in Gosford.

Newcastle almost struck back though when Rodriguez latched onto a long pass and unleashed a stinging volley, only the brilliance of Danny Vukovic in goal denying the visitors an instant equaliser.

The Jets best chances were arising on the break. Mark Bridge and Matthew Thompson's combined efforts very nearly provided the easiest of chances for Rodriguez, but the pass evaded the lively South American.

Seconds later Vukovic rose to force once more when an unmarked Thompson stretched to divert a cross on goal only for the young keeper to produce another magical save.

Nick Theodorakopoulos would surely have been aggrieved at the lack of a penalty for his side when O'Grady clumsily hacked down Rodriguez in the area, the referee seeing nothing wrong as the Jets search for a riposte continued.

Nick Carle had been having a quiet night but did well to turn inside his marker and strike a fierce drive on target, however yet again the visitors were thwarted by an outstanding fingertip save from the Mariners keeper.

Newcastle were applying terrific pressure in their search for a goal but soon paid the price of committing too many players forward by being reduced to ten men.

On the counter attack substitute Adam Kwasnik was allowed a run clear of the Jets defence only to be taken down by Paul Okon, the referee showing no hesitation in sending off the former Socceroo as their momentum took a potentially decisive blow.

But with time running out and the Mariners first victory of the season drawing closer, the Jets stunned the home fans by levelling the match at 1-1.

Rodriguez held the ball up well on the left of the area and squared to the onrushing Griffiths who drilled the ball underneath a helpless Vukovic to give his side a tremendous chance of claiming something from the game.

Rather than pressing hard for a winner the Central Coast were forced to battle to hold on to their point as the match entered injury time, however there was still time for both sides to have their opportunity to take all three.

Firstly Griffiths burst into the area and was seemingly taken down by Alex Wilkinson, but rather than point to the spot the referee reached for his pocket on the assumption the striker had dived and issued him with a second yellow to reduce Newcastle to nine men for the final moments.

The Mariners then came as close as they could without scoring when Kwasnik's effort cannoned back off the inside of the post, and the Jets escaped to clinch a thoroughly deserved draw.

It was an entertaining match but the result does little for either side in terms of their league table standings, and both Lawrie McKinna and Theodorakopoulos will be looking for more next week as their men take on New Zealand and Perth respectively.

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