A second half goal from striker Beka Mikeltadze has sealed a 2-1 F3 Derby win for the Newcastle Jets over the Central Coast Mariners at Industree Stadium this afternoon.
The match began in frantic fashion with the Mariners almost taking the lead inside the first minute when Marco Túlio hit the crossbar.
The Jets settled into the game and started to create chances and were rewarded in the 12th minute when Angus Thurgate found Daniel Stynes on the wing who put in a low cross for Trent Buhagiar to put Newcastle in front.
The first half ended with both teams fighting it out for dominance as the Jets took a 1-0 lead into the sheds.
The Jets started the second half brightly as they looked to extend their lead however after a scramble in the box wasn’t dealt with, the ball fell to Jason Cummings who squeezed his shot past Jack Duncan to level scores for the Mariners.
Newcastle responded and took the lead in the 65th minute when Beka Dartsmelia’s corner was met at the back post by an unmarked Beka Mikeltadze who headed home past Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.
The Mariners thought they had levelled the match up in the 73rd minute when Josh Nisbet put the ball in the bakc of the net only for VAR to rule out the goal for a handball in the build-up.
The Jets held out to take honours in the first F3 Derby of the season. The Newcastle Jets are next in action against Brisbane Roar at mcDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.