A double to Anthony Pelikan gave the Melbourne Knights their 6th win of the season in this the penultimate round and in the process handed Newcastle their 11th defeat of the season. It was again a clearly weakened United side with all United substitutes except for the goalkeeper playing 90 minutes in the youth fixture.
A scoreless first half saw Newcastle with all the possession and and territorial advantage. Mitchell Johnson had the chance to open the United account in the 4th minute when Tommi Tomich spilt a low shot but with no United players following the shot the bouncing ball was eventually cleared away by the Knights defence.
Johnson continued to be a force in the first 10 minutes of the half when he hit leather perfect ball to Thomas Libberson only to see Libberson widen the angle to much to shoot effectively on goal.
The 17th minute saw some relief for the teams from the heat when the sprinklers on the pitch started causing a 3 minute delay while the problem was rectified. The poor state of the pitch caused problems for both sides with United captain Robert Middleby requiring attention when he seemed to fall heavily after tripping on some upturned turf.
The second half started the same as the first with United gaining early possession and territorial advantage. United had what was the best chance of the match so far when Mark Wilson put Ryan Griffiths through one on one with Tomich for him only to shoot over the bar.
A goal was finally scored in the 65th minute, totally against the run of play and it was almost not given by referee James Lewis after the ball went under the net and therefore appeared to have missed. Some how a job as simple as checking the nets where pegged in properly was missed by the 4 local officials. It was a good turn by Pelikan on 18 yards who shot wide and low Willis in the United goal, the ball though ending up at the advertising hording after it passed under the net. The Knights players headed back towards halfway whilst referee Lewis awarded a goal kick. The Knights players then ran back and pleaded with Lewis who eventually ran over to the assistant. After the advice from the assistant the goal was awarded much to the relief of the Knights players.
Even after the goal was scored Newcastle kept pushing forward but then the Knights started to get some momentum and it was a long ball floated forward towards Marinos who was marked by Wolfenden. As they jumped in the air Wolfenden was a judged to foul Marinos as they went up for the ball and the penalty was awarded by referee Lewis. Pelikan stepped up to the spot for the kick which he drove high and hard and though Willis got his hands on the ball it was all ways destined for the back of the net, and this time it lodged in the net.
United coach Ian Crook noted it was a typical performance by his team as he said they should have been 3 goals up in the first half but lacking anyone who can finish he was at a loss as what to do. He made note that United's top goal scorer was Jobe Wheelhouse who has scored 4 goals this season from 7 matches played.
Knights coach Ian Dobson said he was happy with the improvement his team had shown as at the start of this season it was decided it would be one of development. He was happy with the rewards were now being shown.