The Mariners missed a host of chances to score while the Jets left Gosford happy to travel back to Newcastle armed with an away point.
All the goals came in an action packed five minute period that kicked off the second half. The Newcastle Jets scored first through Korean midfielder Jin Hyung Song on 47 mins and a header that glanced off Mariners defender Nigel Boogard's shoulder evened up the score less that three minutes later.
The opening minutes began with the usual hustle bustle of a derby game and the 195cm tall Ljubo Milicevic stamped his authority on the game and on Mat Simon. The former Socceroo defender getting involved in a tussle with Simon in the box as they both fought for position during a Mariners corner.
The Central Coast Mariners missed chances galore in the first half none better than striker Dylan McAllister who missed form only a few yards out after Mat Thomson for the Jets had earlier stung the gloves of Mariners keeper Danny Vuckovic with a shot from outside the box. Mat Simon also had a couple of good heading opportunities but could not get his attempts on target.
A long cross by Mariners midfielder and Malta international John Hutchinson looped over everyone and hit the right post of Ben Kennedy. The Newcastle keeper just stood and watched. Ljubo Milicevic then had an exchange with young keeper and told him to do more than just look at crosses. This warning would not be heeded later in the game.
With less than five minutes to go in the first half last week's two goal hero for the Jets Jason Hoffman found himself in the box with an opportunity to shoot. Unfortunately his first touch wasn’t the best and the Jets striker missed badly as his left foot attempt flew wide of the goal.
Branko Culina changed things around for the Jets in the second half by bringing Nikolai Topor -Stanley on for Chris Triantis and also switched to a 3-5-2 formation allowing Ljubo Milicevic to play in midfield. The move was one of Branko’s party tricks he used when coaching Sydney FC.
The change of personnel and formation had an immediate impact. Just two minutes were played in the second half when a teasing cross by the Jets right back Tarek Elrich caused havoc in the Mariners box, the ball was not properly cleared. Nigel Boogard headed the ball towards Italian Marquee Fabio Vignaroli who helped the ball along to Jin Hyung Song, the Korean was all alone in the box and he placed his right foot shot into the corner of the net and the Jets were up 1-0.
The Mariners would have been cursing the missed chances they spurned in the first half.Then only a few moments later the Mariners hit back. Scottish import Michael McGlinchey crossed in a looping free kick into the box. Ben Kennedy was warned in the first half not to stare at crosses and he just did that as Nigel Boogard made up for his earlier mistake by heading the cross with the aid of his shoulder into the goal.
The rest of the game was marred by poor crossing and shooting from both sides. Pedj Bojic hit a free kick that does not need to be mentioned at all let alone described.
The Mariners had chances to score late in the second half but just couldn’t finish the Jets off. First Mat Simon had flicked in a low corner from John Hutchinson that Elrich cleared off the line after 75 minutes of play. A couple of minutes later Nick Mrdja found himself in the box with room to shoot but his right foot proved to be wooden and hollow as he scuffed the chance off target, much to frustration of the home fans.Both teams ran out of steam at the end and the game finished 1-1 the Mariners would have been upset they didn’t win at home while the Jets would have been happy with an away point.