Newcastle Jets cannot take a trick. A week after giving up an equaliser in the 94th minute – the fifth time they have conceded in the 90th minute or later – the Jets had a crucial goal-line call go against them in a scoreless draw with arch enemies Central Coast Mariners at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
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The contentious moment came in the 38th minute with the Jets on top. Mitch Cooper hit a right-foot thunderbolt from the top of the penalty box that crashed into the underside of the bar and angled down into the turf. To the eye, the ball appeared to cross the line for a goal. Cooper celebrated as though it had but the referee's assistant was unmoved. Television replays showed the ball caught the edge of the chalk in the closest of calls. Either way, it strengthened the case for the introduction of video technology.
Jets coach Phil Stubbins said the margin or error was slight. "An inch or more on the other side of the chalk and it is definitely a goal," he said. "If it is a split-second decision, then the linesman making that decision has hedged his bets and thought it wasn't a goal. A video would have shown it either way."
On the opposite bench, Mariners Phil Moss coach said he was a supporter of technology. "I will never understand in this day and age why we don't have goal-line technology at least," Moss said. "From the replays I saw, even the commentators who got to watch it 10 or 15 times were divided. I don't how the linesman with the sun in his eyes is going to tell."
That is of little consequence to the Jets. The home side had the better of the contest, especially in the first half, but again they were left with little to show for it. They still have just one win from 19 games.
As expected, Stubbins rushed Serbian Enver Alivodic, who was cleared on Friday, on to the right wing and switched Lee Ki-je to left back to cover Mariners danger man Fabio Ferreira.
In for the suspended Andrew Hoole, Alivodic made an instant impact. He released Scott Neville down the right with his first touch and combined with the right back again five minutes later to set up a half chance in traffic for Edson Montano.
The Ecuadorean fired the first salvo in the 19th minute with a stinging effort from the edge of the penalty area that Liam Reddy did well to knock away at the near post. Neville and Cooper both forced fumbles from Reddy and Alivodic went close with a cheeky chip as the shot count climbed to 5-0 after 25 minutes.
In the first real sign of a derby, Zenon Caravella collected Storm Roux in a sliding tackle and was booked. The challenge woke the visitors from their slumber. Nick Fitzgerald made a mazy run in to the box only for the Jets defence to scramble well and Nick Montgomery had a low drive turned around the left post by Ben Kennedy
The Jets continued to set the tone early in the second half. Alivodic dragged a shot past the left post and then hit the side netting before being replaced in the 55th minute.
