The Jets have drawn 1-all with Adelaide United in Bathurst on Wednesday night.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets and Adelaide United had to settle for a point each in their midweek regional round clash at Carrington Park in Bathurst, after a 1-all entertaining encounter.
There was plenty of anticipation in the lead up to this Hyundai A-League fixture played in Bathurst in regional NSW, with Adelaide and the Jets sitting eighth and ninth on the ladder respectively and both desperate for 3-points.
The Jets started well as Jeremy Brockie and Labinot Haliti created some good chances in the opening minutes but were unable to beat Eugene Galekovic in the Adelaide goal.
After a nervous start Adelaide-s best chance came on 29 minutes when Sergio Van Dijk got on the end of a cross from close range, but some great anticipation from Jets keeper Ben Kennedy denied his attempt on goal.
After pressuring Newcastle for the remainder of the half, the Jets went close to scoring against the flow when a back pass from Cameron Watson was intercepted by Labinot Haliti. Galekovic produced a fine reflex save with just two minutes remaining in the first half and both sides were unable to break the deadlock after forty five minutes.
Adelaide United picked up where they left off after the break and some great goal keeping from Kennedy kept the Jets in the contest early on after a great one-on-one opportunity opened up.
Sergio Van Dijk opened the scoring for the reds on 56 minutes as he got on the end Iain Ramsey-s cross on the edge of the six yard box.
Jobe Wheelhouse was a second half substitute as he continues his road to recovery from a foot injury, and he sparked the resurgence of his side, to make an immediate impact from the middle of the park.
Wheelhouse found an equaliser on 73 minutes after making a late run into the box to finish Ruben Zadkovich-s cross after losing his defender down the right hand side.
The introduction of Michael Bridges, Francis Jeffers and Wheelhouse in the second half seemed to pick up Newcastle-s momentum as they controlled the game and looked most likely to walk away with the much needed three points.
Jets leading scorer Ryan Griffiths had a good chance to grab the match winner on 84 minutes but his shot went just past the back post from a difficult angle.
The Jets now need to prepare to play second placed Brisbane Roar away on Saturday with just three days recovery time.
The team will attend a final community Australia Day appearance on Thursday before the team travel back to Newcastle, and then onto Brisbane on Friday.
Game Details:
Newcastle Jets FC 1 (J. Wheelhouse 73-)
Adelaide United FC 1 (S. Van Dijk 56-)
Carrington Park, Bathurst
Wednesday 25th January
Kick-Off 8pm
Newcastle Jets line up: 1. Ben KENNEDY (GK), 2. Taylor REGAN, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Tiago CALVANO, 6. Ben KANTAROVSKI, 8. Jeremy BROCKIE (9. Michael BRIDGES 73-), 10. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 11. Tarek ELRICH (12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE 57-), 14. Labinot HALITI (24. Francis JEFFERS 62-), 18. Mario JESIC, 23. Ryan GRIFFITHS (c).
Substitutes not used: 19. Matthew NASH (GK).
Adelaide United line up: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (c) (GK),2. Osama MALIK, 3. Nigel BOOGAARD, 5. Daniel MULLEN, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Dario VIDOSIC, 11.Bruce DJITE, 12. Antony GOLEC, 14. Cameron WATSON,17. Iain RAMSAY, 18. Fabian BARBIERO.
Substitutes not used: 15. Jacob MELLING, 20. Mark BIRIGHITTI, 21. Francisco UUSUCAR, 24. Teeboy KAMARA.
