Just as he did back in round three against the Mariners, Cai Tipaldo came on late and scored from the bench to change the game.
Ultimately it wasn’t enough for the Jets, as two injury-time Mariners goals locked up all three points for the visitors in a 3-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Adamstown.
A lot of the game went the Jets way, and it was Newcastle who had the ball in the back of the net early when Maki Petratos fired home a precise Mitch Austin cross – but the latter was offside.
Kosta Petratos had a golden opportunity in the 15th minute after Maki squared the ball to his brother inside the penalty area, but his shot was wide of the target.
Kosta had another good chance in the 26th minute after Mitch Austin played a nice ball across, but his shot rocketed back off the woodwork.
Central Coast made the Jets pay for those missed opportunities just minutes later, when centre-forward Jordan Smylie opened the scoring with the help of a deflection from a Jets defender.
Petratos went close again soon after, but hit the crossbar and the sides went to the sheds level.
After a double sub at half-time to change things up, the first good chance for the Jets came in the 60th minute after Mitch Austin found himself in space at the back post. His shot was too straight though and collected by the keeper.
A goalmouth scramble shortly after should have given the Jets something to cheer about, but it wasn’t until the 75th minute that a rather healthy assembled Newcastle crowd rose.
Cai Tipaldo was the man to do it, the robust attacker having entered the field just three minutes prior. He was at the top of the box and rifled a shot home which rippled into the corner of the net to draw the scores level.
With their tails up, Newcastle went searching for an equaliser. Kent Harrison scooped a shot over as the clock wore down, but the visitors weren’t done yet.
Just on the cusp of the end of 45 minutes, the Mariners retook the lead through Jordan Smylie who touched home a ball in from a wide area.
Four minutes later, Chlaes M’Mombwa capped off an impressive performance with a goal of his own to seal all three points for the Central Coast.
Newcastle Jets 1 (Tipaldo 75′) def. by Central Coast Mariners 3 (Smylie 34′, 90′, M’Mombwa 90+4′)
Saturday 22 December,4:30pm at Adamstown Oval
