Central Coast may have held onto a draw after a serious second-half challenge from Newcastle, but Mariners coach Mark Jackson can only see it as a defeat.
Lachie Rose came off the bench in the 54th minute and scored less than five minutes later to begin the Jets' comeback, with Mark Natta finding the equaliser within the final three minutes of regulation time.
The Mariners should have already been out of the woods before Natta's header goal, when a brilliant through ball from Alou Kuol landed at the feet of Mikael Doka. With former title-winning Mariners and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold a spectator, Central Coast were given six minutes of added time to restore their lead, but they had lost their composure.
That's cost us the game. It is the first time Newcastle have avoided defeat in 11 derby games, dating back to December Ninth-placed Central Coast will at least walk away with their undefeated streak extended to four games. The Jets should have opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Clayton Taylor plucked the ball off Mariners defender Trent Sainsbury to set up teammate Daniel Wilmering.
It was slack defending from the Jets that allowed Christian Theoharus to dribble towards goal untagged and pull off a cutback for Paull's opener. Kostandinos Grozos began a beautiful chain down the middle that ended at the feet of Taylor in the 44th minute, but the Jets winger could not apply the finishing touch and sent the ball straight to Mariners keeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen.
