It was a game that had everything: cracking goals, killer celebrations, ridiculous red cards, heated confrontations, silky skills and driving runs, last-minute drama, brilliant saves, calamitous errors and prodigous youngsters battling it out with wisened imports.

With an attendance barely over 7,000, what more do you need to fill AAMI Park?

Roy O'Donovan gave Newcastle the lead after Eugene Galekovic bolted out of his box, misjudged the bounce of Nikolai Topor Stanley's lofted ball and headed the ball to the Irishman in front of an open net.

Ronny Vargas was then sent off in the aftermath of a hand-ball penalty decision for dissent, Riley McGree cool from the spot to draw City equal.

Luke Brattan then put Melbourne in front with another vintage performance and while Newcastle executed a spring-and-counter gameplan to almost-perfection, they couldn't find the equaliser.

 The win affirms status quo on the ladder, City stay four points ahead of Adelaide United in fourth, while the Novocastrians languish four points adrift of Wellington Phoenix and the top six.