IT was a case of what if again for the Newcastle Jets after they gave up a late goal to draw 1-all with the Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
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Dimi Petratos put the home side ahead in the 32nd minute and they held strong until three minutes from full-time.
From nothing, the ball fell to Roar replacement Bradden Inman on the edge of the box. The Australian-born former Scottish youth international produced a neat turn and hit a stinging shot which went in off the underside of the bar.
The Jets had two late chances to grab all three points. Matt Millar drove towards the by-line and hit a cross which fizzed across the goalmouth. All it needed was a touch.
Then, in injury time, Angus Thurgate curled a cross into the six-yard box. Ben Kantarovski made good contact with his header but Roar keeper Jamie Young made a brilliant save to knock the ball to safety.
Ten minutes earlier, Young had denied Thurgate when one-on-one with another superb reflex effort.
In the end, the Roar keeper was the difference.
It was the third game this season the Jets have conceded late to give up points. In round five, Diego Castro pounced in the 86th minute for a 1-all draw for Perth. Jamies Troisi scored an 83rd-minute winner for Adelaide in round nine.
Despite the deflating end, it was a far better performance from the home side, especially in defence.
The Roar had 57 % of possession, but most of their 14 shots at goal were long-range efforts.
Young was by far the busier of the two keepers.
As expected, Ernie Merrick kept faith in teenagers Pat Langlois and Thurgate and installed Bobby Burns at left back for his first start in Jets colours.
It was a different story for his opposite, Robbie Fowler, who made five changes to the XI that went down 2-0 to Western United before their bye.
In a surprise, Roy O'Donovan, who has has scored six of the Roar's nine goals, was dropped to the bench for his first match back in Newcastle.
It was better news for another former Jet, Jacob Pepper, who was given his first start since November 23.
The shake-up had the desired effect for the visitors, who bossed the early exchanges.
They nearly went ahead inside five minutes when Aidan O'Neill found space on the edge of the box, but his low shot was finger-tipped around the post by Glen Moss.
Boxing Day was the 30th anniversary of the Newcastle earthquake and in a sign of respect to the 13 people who lost their lives, the crowd stood and applauded in the 13th minute.
The Jets, under pressure for much of the opening 15 minutes, forced a reflex save from Jamie Young. Thurgate won possession in the box and hit a square pass across goal. Petratos only had time to stab at the ball and it didn't have enough venom to beat the keeper.
Young did well again five minutes later, dropping to his right to parry a first-time effort by Steve Ugarkovic.
Thurgate caused the defence problems with his movement.
Burns justified his inclusion with a busy opening 45 minutes, that included a couple of dangerous balls in behind.
The further the half went the more dangerous the Jets were.
The goal came in the 34th minute. Matt Millar found Hoffman in behind with an angled ball. Young parried away his attempt but Petratos.
The Roar lost skipper and defensive general Tom Aldred to a leg injury five minutes into the second half.
It has been a month since the Jets' last win - 2-0 over Wanderers on November 30 - and they started to sit deeper and protect the lead.
In need of a spark, Fowler injected O'Donovan with 15 minutes remaining. The Irishman was greeted with a chorus of boos by the Jets faithful.
He had a late chance at a winner, but couldn't beat Glen Moss at the near post.
