Newcastle midfielder Tamar Levin has come back to haunt her old A-League Women (ALW) club, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 F3 derby draw that ends Central Coast's perfect start to the season.
Levin's goal in the 71st minute earned the Jets their first point of the campaign, after the Mariners burst from the blocks at a rain-soaked Polytec Stadium with Skye Halmarick's fifth-minute strike.
Newcastle's American forward Allie Thornton found the back of the net in the 55th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The Jets eventually broke through for their much-needed goal thanks to Thornton's compatriot and ALW debutant Erin Flurey, who notched the assist less than three minutes after coming off the bench.
Switching allegiances for this season, former Mariners midfielder Levin scored Newcastle's (0-1-2) first goal of the season after back-to-back 1-0 losses.
"It's a bit of a weird feeling (playing against the Mariners). I won't lie, but no, I'm just super happy," Levin told Paramount Plus.
"We started poorly with our first two games, so we did want to come out firing.
"I couldn't be prouder of the girls. We put in a good shift. Three points next game."
It is the first time the two sides have drawn in six clashes in the competition since 2023.
League leaders Central Coast (3-1-0) fall short of recording their best start to an ALW season and an equal-club best fourth-straight win.
The hosts' opener came when Jets defender Natasha Prior gave away possession to Halmarick in the box.
Newcastle midfielder Claire Adams had a flurry of chances to equalise in the 21st minute, but was either off the mark or kept out by Mariners goalkeeper Morgan Aquino.
A dashing run down the right wing from Cameron Valladares gave the visitors hope for an equaliser, with the American midfielder setting up Thornton's disallowed goal with a classy cross.
Newcastle remained dogged before finally finding reward through Levin as heavy rain descended on Gosford.
