The Jets dominated possession and territory in the first half but couldn't break down a determined Mariners defence and when Matt Simon broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a fine right foot shot it appeared the visitors had the momentum and the game in their keeping.

But the home side never gave up and Petrovski, who came on in 68th minute, poked home the equaliser deep into injury time in a goal-mouth scramble following a corner.

The match started in perfect conditions in front of another healthy crowd of 7731 and it was English import Francis Jeffers who had the first chance in the ninth minute.

Marko Jesic provided a deft through ball for the former England international to race into the penalty area but he dragged his shot just wide of the far post.

Just moments later Jeffers fired a snap half-volley from 25 metres out that rocketed narrowly over the crossbar.

The Jets were dealt a body blow half hour mark when they lost Jeffers with what looked like a groin injury. Labinot Haliti came on to join Jesic up front for the home side.

Jets skipper Ljubo Milicevic saw his header from a Kasey Wehrman cleared off the line by Trent Sainsbury before Ali Abbas fired a blistering volley from 30 metres out that forced a fine fingertip save from mariners goalkeeper Matthew Ryan to keep the sides locked at 0-0 at half-time.

The task was made harder for the home side when Milicevic sucuumb to an ankle injury at the break and was replaced by Jobe Wheelhouse.

The Mariners grabbed the lead in the 49th minute in controversial fashion.

Mustafa Amini took the ball in an attacking position 30 metres out from goal and it appeared as if it bobbled up and hit his hand before he delivered a lovely pass to Matt Simon just inside the box. The Mariners striker fired a crisp right-footed shot just inside the far post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Jets went close to leveling the match in the 76th minute when Wheelhouse pounced on the loose ball only to see his first shot saved by Ryan before the Central Coast custodian re-gathered before Wheelhouse could deliver the killer blow.

The Jets threw everything at the Mariners in the final minutes and were finally rewarded for their endeavour when Petrovski managed to flick a shot in during a goal mouth scramble to give the Jets a share of the points.

Newcastle Jets 1
Petrovski 90+2

Central Coast Mariners 1
Simon 49

Crowd 7731 at EnergyAustralia Stadium