Canberra United secured their first point of the Foxtel Y-League season with a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s final round clash with the Newcastle Jets at Deakin Stadium.
It was an end to end start to the game with neither side able to hold onto the ball for very long.
Both sides were getting into attacking positions, but chances were few and far between.
The hosts looked to create seven minutes in as Lucas Mauragis broke down the left wing but his cross was unable to trouble the visitors and moments later Mauragis got on the end of Nik Popovich’s cross only to see the effort claimed by Noah James in goal.
The Jets took advantage soon after to take the lead when Jack Simmons tapped home at the back post from a scramble in the area, and the game evolved into a tough, physical contest after that.
United had two chances to level scores just before the break, first as James Carli headed wide from a corner and then when Jarrad Wiley had a well-hit effort saved by James to keep the Jets ahead.
Newcastle had the first attempt on goal for the second half but Finn Jurak pulled out an excellent save to keep the deficit at a goal, and both sides created chances in the early running but could not convert.
Brodie Clarkson fired wide for United while Jurak saved from Kosta Petratos as the visitors looked to push their lead.
United eventually levelled though as Bul Juach beat two defenders on the wing before smashing an effort off the underside of the crossbar and in from just inside the 18-yard box.
Both sides traded chances through eight long minutes of stoppage time but neither could find a breakthrough as the game finished up just in time ahead of storms rolling in.
The result locked the Jets into fourth place in Conference B and United into 5th.
