The Newcastle Jets were forced to share the spoils in the Foxtel National Youth League, as they clashed with archrivals, the Central Coast Mariners at No.2 Sportsground.
A Blake Powell strike inside the final 20 minutes ensured the visitors took away a point from the first round clash, after the Jets went to the front in the first half.
Newcastle had the better of the opening half, with Devante Clut and Kosta Petratos causing constant threats in the front third, while Lachlan Jackson and skipper Pat Langlois were resolute at the back.
The opening goal came via Clut, who was dragged down in the box, and the Jets attacker stepped up and clinically slotted his strike past Mariners goalkeeper, Aidan Munford.
The home side took their 1-0 lead into the break, however, when they returned the Mariners began to gain slight control of what was a continuing arm-wrestle.
Throughout the second stanza, both sides created half chances, but neither could get a sight on goal.
That was until Mariners speedster Trent Buhagiar found space down the right edge and almost lobbed his half-cross, half-shot over Jets custodian Kane Runge.
Former Wellington Phoenix striker Blake Powell then came to life, busting down the left flank, and curling a shot towards the far post, forcing Runge into a diving save, low to his left.
Powell wasn’t to be stopped though and just minutes later sliced down the right edge of the box and fired a powerful shot past Runge, which smashed into the back of the net.
From there, both sides searched for a winner, and Kosta Petratos thought he had it ten minutes from time, when he volleyed home a pinpoint cross.
However, the goal was cancelled out for offside as the sides shared the points, in the first ever NYL game at No. 2 Sportsground.
Newcastle Jets: 1.Kane RUNGE (gk), 6.Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 6.Cameron JOICE, 7.Kosta PETRATOS, 5.John KOUTROUMBIS, 11.Yerasimakis PETRATOS, 8.Angus THURGATE, 15.Peter LANGLOIS, 10.Devante CLUT, 2.Jake ADELSON, 3.Lachlan JACKSON
Substitutes: 4.Kieran HAYES, 12.Finn PARRIS, 14.Solomon-Johnn MONAHAN-VAIIKA, 16.Joseph O’CONNOR, 20.Tristian ESQUILAN
Central Coast Mariners: 1.Aidan MUNFORD (gk), 2.Quentin CHENG, 3.Lewis MILLER, 4.Michael GLASSOCK, 5.Jack KUIPERS, 6.Josh NISBET, 7.Lachlan WALES, 8.Adam BERRY, 9.Josh BINGHAM, 10.Blake POWELL, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR
Substitutes: 11.Peter KEKERIS, 15.Kyle JOHNSON, 16.Gianni STENSNESS, 20.Jack GREENWOOD
