A 'game of two halves' saw the match between Underground FC and Alegria United end in a 1-1 stalemate at Riversdale Reserve in Avondale.
Irafaan Small's fifth goal of the season gave the 2011 Super League winners a 1-0 halftime lead before a superb passage of play - and the ensuing goal - from Andrew Dunn ensured Underground continued their unbeaten record this season.
The pressure of performing well immediately after the bye round came back to bite the Super League title hopefuls as a woeful defensive display in the first half put pressure on Ryan Hodgson's men.
An honest summary at half time and some key substitutions saw Underground, who were debuting their orange-and-black uniforms on a beautiful autumn day, improve significantly and regain the confidence created in the first three rounds of the competition.
The two points gained from the draw saw the orange-and-blacks move to 19 points, four points clear of Hillsborough ReUnited, who scored a 4-3 win over LIFE United with a late winner to move up four spots.
The defending champions went a goal up after some defensive lapses on a long throw in. The ball sailed effortlessly into the box, where Small was able to control the ball before getting a shot away from the diving Andy Speir in goal.
The celebration was fitting - his fifth goal of the season certainly was one of the easier ones - and the small fanbase supporting the red-shirted 2011 were duly smiling after their one-goal advantage.
It frustrated Underground and emotions started to flare up. It wasn't long into the second half, however, when the Rusties showed why they were the competition's first-placed team with some nice touches in midfield.
Despite the new-found confidence within the team it was a solely individual effort that saw Underground equalise. Vice-captain Dunn used his superb footwork to ghost through four defenders en route to the six yard box before he finished in style to the delight of the supporters.
The pressure was then on to see who would snatch victory, but neither side were able to finish. Alegria United's Rumi Masanga had one of the best chances late in the game when he was put through one-on-one with Speir, but his rocketed shot hit the cross bar and went over to the frustration of captain Micheal Robertson.
Underground had opportunities of their own through Malcolm Turner, Andrew Hewat and Dunn before a controversial decision ensued.
Referee Giovanni Crighton decided not to issue a red card to an Alegria United defender who clipped Andrew Hewat from behind on the edge of the box as the last man before the midfielder was on goal.
The ensuing free kick from Long Tran wound up in the hands of the visiting goalkeeper as the clock ticked over and Crighton blew for full time.
Then, at the other end, misdirected shots from Malcolm Turner, Long Tran and Dunn towards the end of the match left the match in a stalemate.
Scorers:
Underground FC: 1
Goal: Andrew Dunn
Alegria United: 1
Goal: Irafaan Small
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