Sydney United with little to play for still made 2nd placed Newcastle United work for their points, and in the end it was a very dubious penalty taken by Alex Moreira in the 92nd min that gained a point for the Hunter Valley team.
With the double chance top two spot for Newcastle depending on them not losing this one and Olympic getting something at Perth Oval there was still something to play for the full strength Newcastle side, however Sydney United called up it's young brigade for blooding and for some pride restoration.
In the 5th min in a nice move, for Sydney, Goran Talevski sent a back-heal to Commins Menapi at the edge of the box, but the move was read by Baillie.
A minute later Fijian striker Esala Masi made a run and slipped the ball to Joel Griffiths who was free at the edge of the goal area and he tried to chip the keeper but Vilson Knezevic is a little tall for that ploy.
In the 15th min Masi took a wild shot, the ball came out to Gabriel Mendez who switched play, and Goran Talevski made a run down the left side. He went straight for Daniel Beltrame in the Newcastle goal and tried to slip it under the big man - who got down on it to rescue the situation.
Christian Cevenini did some great work to get the ball in the 17th min to Menapi, whose shot was blocked in the box - perhaps by the arm of Peter Tsekenis. Referee Breeze was unmoved despite it being in clear view.
The wide men were struggling to make an impression, including Schirripa on the left but he got behind the defence and put over a ball that looked likely to reach the unmarked Griffiths, however Knezevic just reached up and plucked the ball from the air.
After Mendez shot over the bar in the 23rd min there was little action in the danger zones, however both Middleby and Matthew Bingley shot wide.
At the break, inexplicably Sydney United Coach Branko Culina replaced Talevski with Brendan Santalab. He tried to lob Beltrame out of the sun in the 57th min but Beltrame held it well.
Cevenini and Milan Jedinak were finding lots of room on the left and Jedinak knocked a header onto and off the crossbar, and then hit a long shot wide on the left in the 67th min.
Newcastle started to get chances again, as for all their dominance of possession Sydney United were looking more dangerous. Middleby shot over, and then after Griffiths took a wild swing at the ball on the edge of the area, the ball skewed to Baillie but his shot was wide.
In the 74th min Ante Deur got a cross to Commins Menapi and despite the defender seeming to get more head on the ball it went over Beltrame and Menapi was credited with the goal.
Santalab got the ball to Menapi who shot at Beltrame but this was saved.
Substitute Travis Dodd forward using his speed and entering the goal area was knocked down. The penalty was taken by Griffiths, and Knezevic went the right way. From the rebound, Griffiths headed it well wide on the right.
Substitute Alex Moreira took a shot at the goal but again this was parried and gathering the rebound, he could only shoot well wide.
It looked like Sydney United would be rewarded for their hard work when Moreira fell down in the box. For reasons only known to him, Referee Breeze pointed to the spot. This time Moreira took it and made no mistake.
Newcastle was at last desperate for something from the game and Baillie shot hard toward goal only to see Knezevic parry
Sydney United's best were Christian Cevenini, Daniel Watkins, Gabriel Mendez, Goran Talevski, and Vilson Knezevic.
Newcastle's best were Daniel Beltrame, Joel Griffiths, and that is getting somewhat toward the bottom of the barrel.
Newcastle were quite fortunate that Matthew Breeze was in a generous mood toward them and gave the final penalty because they really did little after the first 15 min to grab points. They will have to get more bite into the attack and creativity in the midfield if they want to play in the Grand Final.
Sydney United must now contemplate their future at the Open Public Forum "A Future United" next Friday night. Their crowd was very poor, even for Easter, and it would have been worse but for the 250 Newcastle fans.