Mitchell Duke has stolen an injury-time winner as the Mariners started their A-League season with a 1-0 victory over derby rivals Newcastle at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday night.

Fans appeared resigned to a frustrating draw before Duke outmuscled Taylor Regan on the far post to poke home a long-range free kick from Glen Trifiro in the 91st minute.

The Jets appealed for a foul after Regan went down but their cries were ignored.

It ruined an otherwise bright start for the Jets under new coach Phil Stubbins.

They were tipped in some quarters to take the wooden spoon after the loss of Emile Heskey, Josh Brillante, Ruben Zadkovich and golden boot Adam Taggart.

Northern Irishman Jonny Steele, who was disappointing in the first half, had a golden opportunity for the Jets in the 57th minute when one-on-one with an out-of-position Liam Reddy, but his chipped shot was too strong.

Newcastle went close again two minutes later when Joel Griffiths forced a save from Reddy.

The Mariners, who lifted their game in the second half, had chances when an unmarked Matt Sim shot straight at Mark Birighitti in the 66th minute and skipper John Hutchinson was just wide with a well-struck strike in the 74th.

In the first half, the Jets were impressive and found the back of the net in the 36th minute through Ecuadorian striker Edson Montano, but it was disallowed correctly for offside.

Montano was wide with a strike in the 20th minute and James Virgili had a promising shot cleared with a Nick Montgomery header in the 44th minute in a half where the visitors earned several set-piece opportunities.

But the Mariners also had their moments.

Exciting Senegalese striker Malick Mane was a regular threat and went closest for the Mariners in the 33rd minute when central defender Sam Gallagher cleared his shot off the line.

Mane had two other shots blocked and looked the most likely scorer from either side.

Korean Seung-yong Kim also threatened the Jets’ goal, missing narrowly with a curling free kick from the edge of the area in the 26th minute.

Kim came in for plenty of attention and was on the end of a yellow-carded challenge from Regan in the ninth minute and elbow from Steele in the 56th.