Soccer: It's Newcastle who grab the glory

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Newcastle United, who are hardly shaking in their boots at the prospect of having to play the Football Kingz on Friday night, picked up a late and valuable point against Australian NSL leaders Perth Glory.

The point kept them two clear of the Olympic Sharks in the race for second place and an easier ride through the top six playoffs.

The Sharks did their hopes no good when they were beaten 3-0 away by South Melbourne, who moved into the top six for the first time this season.

Perth, already assured of top spot with Newcastle 12 points away, had to come from behind after Joel Griffiths had given the visitors a ninth-minute lead.

The West Australians did not get back to 1-1 until the 73rd minute, when Brad Hassell headed home a Bobby Despotovski cross. Damien Mori gave Perth the lead for the first time, in the 87th minute, before Peter Tsekenis snatched an injury-time equaliser.

Marconi kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a lucky 2-1 home win over struggling Adelaide City.

Again, it was virtually the last kick of the game which completed the scoring, with Royce Brownlie beating the offside trap to chip home the winner.

South Melbourne's win continued an amazing late run. After 12 rounds, last year's beaten finalists were bottom of the table. In came Paul Trimboli and Con Boutsianis, and their luck changed.

They have now gone nine games without defeat and seem certain to finish in the top six.

But with the Boutsianis and Football Kingz contractual issue, which could yet cost South Melbourne three points, still hanging over them it might not be the end of that story.

Against the Sharks, Trimboli gave Souths a 39th-minute lead after playing a one-two with Boutsianis. Ray Sekulovski gave the home side a 2-0 halftime lead.

All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny completed the victory in the dying minutes when he blasted home from close range.

Northern Spirit saw their playoff hopes stunted when held 1-1 by lowly Sydney United, and Wollongong Wolves beat Brisbane Strikers 3-1, but that will almost certainly not be enough to keep their hopes of retaining their title alive.