The result leaves Newcastle five points clear of fifth-placed United with just two rounds left to play in the regular season.

Joel Griffiths headed in his 10th goal of the season before Lucas Pantelis levelled matters. Adelaide then saw youngster Fabian Barbiero red-carded in first-half stoppage time but they battled valiantly in the second period. It took a James Holland header 18 minutes from time to finally settle the contest as the Jets notched up only their third – but most important – home win of the season.

Griffiths, now leading the race for the golden boot on his own, said: “It seems like everything I touch goes in but I could have had a few more tonight. I’m pretty happy with the three points though. Full credit to Adelaide though. They made it tough for us. It’s a massive result though. It’s a five point gap between us and them. We’ve still a chance to make the top two as well.”

As for United, Travis Dodd admitted it was all over bar the shouting for Adelaide. He said: “It’s not looking good. It was one of those games where the season was on the line for us. We tried our hardest, we had the chances but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We’ve still got the Asian Champions League to look forward to and it’s important we keep our heads up. We just have to keep going.

Jets boss Gary Van Egmond was able to welcome back the hugely influential Griffiths after suspension. The A-League’s joint leading scorer was badly missed as the Jets crashed against Wellington last week. Defender Andrew Durante was also back in the frame after completing a ban. Steve Laybutt and Denni were both absent through illness.

Aurelio Vidmar’s injury woes only seem to grow. Kristian Sarkies is sidelined with deep vein thrombosis while striker Dez Giraldi is undergoing tests after heart palpatations. The United boss is already without marquee forward Paul Agostino and Olyroo striker Nathan Burns.

Shaun Ontong and Michael Valkanis are out for the rest of the campaign. Vidmar’s defensive woes are not helped by suspensions for Cassio and Robbie Cornthwaite which ruled them out of this encounter. Youngster Fabian Barbiero was handed a first start in midfield. Milan Susak came in for Cornthwaite with Isyan Erdogan filling in for Cassio at left-back.

The visitors forced a corner down the left inside the first minute but the set piece was comfortably cleared as national coach Pim Verbeek looked on. The home team’s first meaningful attack ended with a badly misdirected header from Scott Tunbridge as the Jets looked to improve a pretty miserable record at EnergyAustralia this term.

Lucas Pantelis should have done better on 10 minutes as he met a Richie Alagich ball from the right but scuffed his shot into the ground from 20 metres. The Jets broke quickly and Tarek Elrich’s low drive was on target, albeit lacking the power to trouble Eugene Galekovich.

Susak picked up the first yellow card of the contest on 12 as he hauled back Joel Griffiths as the forward threatened to wriggle clear. Worse was to follow for Adelaide as from the set piece Griffiths was perfectly placed to meet the delivery from James Holland and power a header into the right hand corner of the net – goal number 10 for the campaign.

Pantelis thrashed high and wide as he connected with a Bobby Petta pass on 15 as the visitors looked for a way back into the contest. Barbiero followed Susak into the book for a wretched challenge on Mark Bridge in the 18th minute, a shade fortunate not to see red.

Travis Dodd blazed wide of the right post in the 20th minute, Adelaide’s hard work failing to be matched by clinical finishing in the final third of the pitch. The Jets burst forward at the other end with Holland threading a terrific ball through the Adelaide defence to Griffiths. Thankfully for the visitors Susak made a timely challenge to snuff out the threat.

Holland should have doubled the Jets lead on 25 as he connected with Bridge’s cross from the left but volleyed wide of the right post.

Alagich, who passed a fitness test just before kick off, put a little too much on a cross aimed for Petta as the game moved into the final 10 minutes of the first half. Durante made a terrific header to clear a free-kick whipped into the area as Bruce Djite closed in while Galekovic spread himself well at the other end to deny Griffiths a second goal.

Diego created space for himself on 38 but blasted way off target from 25 metres. Barbiero then fired wide of the right post as United began to look more threatening.

The visitors got their reward on 41 as Covic swatted away Pantelis’ first effort but the midfielder’s persistence paid off as he rifled home into the left-hand corner of the net from the loose ball – the player’s fifth goal of the campaign.

Covic was then forced into a great stop to his right to turn away a stinging drive from Barbiero with Dodd heading wide from the resulting corner.

Disaster struck for the visitors though as Barbiero earned a second caution for a foul on Adam Griffiths and was sent for an early shower in first-half stoppage time.

Susak stuck out a vital boot to prevent Bridge putting Joel Griffiths clear on 52 as the Jets looked to make the most of their numerical advantage. Alagich then cut out another threaded pass before Dodd fired straight at Covic after a cross from the right flank. Dodd was the culprit again on 58 as he rifled wide from a Djite cross. Van Egmond decided to make a double change at that point. Stuart Musialik and Jason Hoffman entered the fray as the home side battled to prise open the United defence.

Joel Griffiths lobbed over under pressure from Dodd and Galekovic on 63 before Djite fired well wide with a long range effort for Adelaide. Petta warmed Covic’s gloves on 69 while Adam Griffiths slipped as he prepared to pull the trigger for the Jets.

The Jets finally got their noses back in front on 72 minutes as Holland met Elrich’s cross from the right to head past Galekovich to make it 2-1.

Adam Griffiths picked up a costly booking on 74, his seventh yellow card of the campaign which will trigger a two-match ban.

Petta thumped a free-kick into the Newcastle wall following a foul on the excellent Pantelis as Alagich made way for Jason Spagnuolo.

Adam Griffiths unleashed a goalbound thunderbolt on 79 only for Susak to make a vital headed clearance.

Two minutes from time Erdogan cleared off the line from substitute D’Apuzzo as the Jets eased the pressure on their own goal – Adelaide ever more eager to press back their hosts.

Three added minutes appeared on the board. Would it be enough for Adelaide to salvage a point and their finals hopes? The answer, sadly for Vidmar and friends was no.