By TERRY MADDAFORD
Newcastle can sit back and enjoy their last-round bye this weekend content in the knowledge that they have secured the crucial second National Soccer League play-off spot despite being held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Sydney United in their last round-robin outing.
Olympic Sharks, despite their 2-1 away
loss to minor premiers Perth Glory, are certain top-six finishers, but their third place will be under threat in the last round from the Melbourne Knights and Brisbane Strikers, who are just a point back.
But the judicial committee looks likely to have a say on the final six if, as expected, South Melbourne hold their place.
Parramatta Power and Northern Spirit remain in contention and have threatened to take whatever steps are needed to get a final decision in the now-infamous Con Boutsianis affair.
South Melbourne kept their hopes alive with a 4-1 win over Wollongong Wolves.
All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny led South's charge with a hat-trick after Boutsianis had given his side the lead after three minutes. Defender Con Anthopoulos equalised for Wollongong 30 minutes later before Coveny scored his first in the 38th minute and two in the second half.
Newcastle grabbed their point in Sydney with a late penalty from recent arrival Alex Moreira after he had been brought down a minute into injury time.
Melbourne Knights' 2-2 home draw with Northern Spirit was all they needed to qualify. Toto Da Costa and Kresimir Marusic scored either side of the break to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
The Spirit came back strongly and goals to substitute Stephen Dobbie in the 66th and 73rd minutes gave them some hope of taking the three points they needed to get closer to the play-offs.
Norman Tome grabbed the second hat-trick of the round as Marconi beat Brisbane 3-2 in Sydney.
Perth had to come from behind to beat the Sharks, who went ahead with an early Ante Milicic goal.
The home side's Nick Mrdja equalised in the 36th minute and right on halftime Brad Hassell completed the scoring.
