JETS coach Mark Jones preferred to look at his glass as being half-full after an eventful 2-all draw with Perth at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
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The result edged both teams a point closer to the A-League finals, and was a reminder that they share similar capacity for scoring and conceding goals.
The Jets trailed 1-0 after only seven minutes, hit back to lead 2-1 by half-time, allowed Perth to equalise and were fortunate the visitors did not snatch a win late in the second half.
Perth remained fifth on 18 points, one point and position ahead of the Jets, who now hold a two-point advantage over Wellington in the race for the top six.
With 12 games remaining, both the Jets and Glory remain within striking distance of fourth-placed Brisbane (21 points).
“We more than competed, and it wasn’t our greatest game,’’ Jones said.
“If we get things right, we can beat anyone on our day. We’ve just got to consistently do that.
“But to get a point out of that, it drags us a point closer to fourth, so we’re happy with that.’’
Perth coach Kenny Lowe was left lamenting a disputed penalty, saying “the momentum changes on a decision that, I don’t know, maybe wasn’t a decision’’.
Newcastle’s hopes of posting a rare clean sheet were foiled in the seventh minute when former Jet Adam Taggart pounced on a defensive error by Lachlan Jackson.
The Jets hit back in the 37th minute, when Perth defender Shane Lowry tangled with Newcastle striker Morten Nordstrand, conceding a penalty that Mateo Poljak placed perfectly to equalise.
Then in the final minute before half-time, Jets winger Andrew Nabbout scored his fifth goal of the season after accepting a Nordstrand pass.
Andy Keogh restored parity 10 minutes into the second half when he latched onto a Chris Harold cross.
Perth finished the match with 10 men after defender Rostyn Griffiths received two red cards in the 87th minute.
He was sent off for a second bookable offence, a clumsy challenge on Jets substitute Devante Clut, then copped another red for abusing referee Stephen Lucas.
The Jets had dramas of their own when winger Andrew Hoole collected his fifth yellow card of the season, which means he will have to sit out next Sunday’s clash with Western Sydney at Campbelltown.
Newcastle’s English import Wayne Brown (hip) was unable to complete the warm-up because of injury and withdrew.
