The Jets striker cancelled out Robbie Kruse’s early opener as he sent former Jets keeper Liam Reddy the wrong way in the opening moments of the second half.

Roar skipper Moore was later presented with a chance to restore his team’s advantage but saw his low penalty saved to his left by Jets custodian Ante Covic.

Speaking just after the full-time whistle Covic, the Hyundai A-League’s leading shot stopper, said: “I left it to the last second and I was trying to think of the last time Moorey took a penalty.

"I judged it right, got a hand to it so I’m more than happy. I thought we had the better of the game. We got caught out (with Roar’s opener) as we weren’t concentrating but we came back strongly.”

Roar keeper Reddy said: “We’ve had two tough trips to Central Coast and Newcastle so to get four points is good.”

Gary Van Egmond made three changes to the side that saw off Wellington Phoenix last week with Olyroos Mark Bridge and Adam D’Apuzzo slotting back into a 4-3-3 formation along with Andrew Durante.

James Holland was given another run after his debut heroics but defender Adam Griffiths missed out again through injury. The visitors were without the influential Danny Tiatto, the off season recruit having picked up a one-match ban for four yellow cards.

Ben Griffin was handed a start at right-back by Frank Farina in a 4-5-1 formation with Hyuk-Su Seo filling the holding midfield role as the Roar chased a third straight victory.

The visitors got off to a dream start and took the lead after just 36 seconds courtesy of their exciting young guns. Michael Zullo skipped past a couple of challenges as he accelerated down the left channel and weaved his way into the Jets penalty area.

His fellow Brisbanite Robbie Kruse swung and missed before composing himself for a second bite of the cherry and slammed the ball past Ante Covic into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Reinaldo was a whisker away from connecting with a free-kick into the box on seven minutes, awarded for a foul by Denni on the lively Zullo. The visitors should have been awarded a spot-kick two minutes later as Zullo sprinted into the box only to have his run brought to an abrupt halt by an outstretched leg.

Referee Mark Shield simply waved play on as the Roar camp appealed in vain. Play swiftly moved to the other end as Joel Griffiths whipped in a low cross from the right on 12 minutes. Roar keeper Liam Reddy was out swiftly to smother the danger as the match began at an impressive pace.

There was a scare for the home side with Mark Bridge needing treatment for a shoulder injury sustained after landing awkwardly but he was soon back in the action.

More good work by Kruse fed Marcinho on the right edge of the area but he delivered a poor cross while Reinaldo evaded the attentions of Steve Laybutt only to slash a miserable effort well wide of the right post on 18 minutes.

The Jets continued to look for a way through the visiting defence with Matt Thompson looking the most likely provider down the left flank. James Holland had a wonderful chance to level matters in the 21st minute as Bridge found him in space with a precision pass from the left.

The youngster lined up his strike, took aim and fired towards the top right hand corner. Fortunately for the Roar the execution wasn’t quite there.

However, the home team looked stronger and stronger as the half progressed and boasted the bulk of the possession although their visitors continued to look menacing through Zullo and Kruse on the break.

Roar had their goalkeeper to thank on the half hour as Bridge crossed from the left and Liam Reddy somehow kept out Troy Hearfield’s header from point blank range. Whether it was a good save or a bad miss was open to question.

Denni became the first player to be cautioned after halting Marcinho’s charge down the right flank but the resulting free-kick into the area was easily cleared by the home defence. Kruse then found space to feed Marcinho but the Brazilian rifled his effort wide of the right post on 34 minutes.

Joel Griffiths should have levelled matters three minutes before the break as he raced on to a terrific chip into the area by Bridge. The Jets striker beat Roar keeper Reddy to the ball but lifted his shot just wide of the right upright.

Zullo rocketed wide at the other end as the first half drew to a close. As the teams trooped off to the dressing rooms the difference remained Kruse’s early strike.

Zullo turned from hero to villain just 50 seconds into the second half as Hearfield wriggled into the box and crashed to the floor under the Roar youngster’s challenge. Joel Griffiths made Zullo pay as he sent Reddy the wrong way from the spot and thumped the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

The A-League’s leading shot-taker Marcinho added another attempt on goal to his impressive personal tally on 51 minutes but the ball flew harmlessly wide of the left post. The same player then burst through the middle but a poor touch let him down under pressure from home skipper Jade North.

The Jets made a change on 55 with Denni making way for former Central Coast Mariners skipper Noel Spencer.

Thompson took a tumble under the challenge of Kruse on the hour and was furious when the referee failed to point to the spot. And Sasha Ognenovski was none too impressed as he was felled on the byline by Joel Griffiths while Laybutt was extremely fortunate to escape a booking for a foul on Kruse.

Farina made his first change on 64 with Marcinho making way for another highly-rated youngster Mitch Nichols.

Seconds later Roar was handed a chance to regain the lead. This time Laybutt was penalised for a foul on Kruse and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Skipper Craig Moore stepped up but his low strike lacked the power to beat Covic who got down smartly to his left to push the ball away. The visitors were slow to follow up and the Jets hacked the ball clear.

Van Egmond then made his second change as Tarek Elrich entered the fray with Durante making way. The home side pushed forward and Reddy flew to his right to hold on to a deflected Matt Thompson free-kick on 68.

Seo scuffed an effort wide of the right post on 72 while Griffiths claimed he had been clocked on the back of the neck by Ognenovski, the duo having enjoyed a tough battle all night.

Reinaldo headed Matty McKay’s free-kick from the left just fractionally wide of the right post although he could argue his shirt was being held in the process.

Super Mario Jardel was thrown into the action with 14 minutes remaining, Hearfield the striker to make way for the Brazilian. Roar’s own Brazilian, Reinaldo, picked up a knock and was promptly replaced by Scottish forward Simon Lynch for the final 12 minutes.

McKay was booked for a late challenge on Holland as both teams continued to put everything into an intriguing contest.

Holland looped a header on to the roof of Reddy’s net five minutes from time, beating McCloughan to the challenge, the Jets youngster having enjoyed another impressive outing.

Griffiths crashed a powerful effort high and wide as the game moved into the final minute as the home side chased the winner that would take them top of the table.

As the match moved into stoppage time, Roar defender Ognenovski made a terrific tackle to thwart Holland as he prepared to pull the trigger for what would surely have been the winner.

That was that with the result enough to take the Jets level on points with leaders Central Coast Mariners with the Roar failing in its quest to win three games in a row for the first time in the club’s history. Frank Farina’s men moved up to third as a result of the draw.

FourFourTwo Says:
Another entertaining encounter but probably not the result either team wanted. Robbie Kruse got his team off to the ideal start, teed up by fellow youngster Michael Zullo. The latter turned from hero to villain as he conceded the penalty for the Jets' equaliser but it's all part of the learning curve. Credit to Ante Covic for a decent penalty save and full marks to Roar's Sash Ognenovski for a superb point-saving tackle at the death.