W-League: Jets reverse hoodoo to claim three points

The Newcastle Jets have broken a six-year losing streak at Magic Park by thumping the Brisbane Roar Ladies 4-1 in a fantastic home performance.

With the chance of securing a bid for finals football this season, the Jets faced down against a challenge they have yet to overcome – defeating Brisbane Roar at home. Since the formation of the W-League, the Newcastle Jets have failed to secure a win at home against the ladies from Brisbane.

The first half saw the Jets open strong, looking to break the record and put a win to their name, as well as prove they had left their mediocre season well and truly behind.

The first half hour of the game saw both teams struggle to take shots, and only three shots came off Brisbane’s boots to challenge Claire Coelho in Newcastle’s goals, but all that changed on Victoria Huster’s breakaway.

Huster claimed a tap-in in the 35th minute and moments later, Emily Van Egmond slammed a chip into the bar, glancing into the back of the net and putting Newcastle two goals up with minutes to go in the second half.

Newcastle retained its solid lead as the second half opened, with Brisbane desperate to equalize, but a mistake struck the defence moments into the half and the Roar defenders claimed a goal against themselves with a mistimed kick leading to an own goal from Huster’s pressure.

A scrabble in the box gave the Jets another chance as Van Egmond lined up to take the penalty kick from the dot, and a casual tap into the right side of the net put the Jets on four to Brisbane’s nil, all but sealing the game for the home side.

Grace Macintyre returned to the pitch to replace Rhali Dobson in a bid to give the Jets an even higher goal difference, with Macintyre’s aim simple: score more goals.

Butt claimed back a consolation goal for the away side, but Newcastle was simply too far ahead, closing the game out with slow-paced defence that made sure the lead stayed in tact.

The win gives Newcastle a fighting chance of taking a high-placed finals position, and has well and truly given a message to the rest of the W-League – we’re back from last season and we’re not looking back.

Newcastle now looks to its next round, where the Jets face the Lady Reds in the reverse fixture at Magic Park, where they will be looking to collect three more points and well and truly book a place in the W-League finals.



Newcastle Jets: 1. Claire COELHO (GK), 2. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 3. Hayley CRAWFORD, 5. Katherine REYNOLDS, 6. Angela SALEM, 7. Victoria HUSTER, 8. Amber NEILSON (77’ Wheeler), 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND (c), 11. Rhali DOBSON (70’ Macintyre), 16. Cassidy DAVIS (81’ Miller)

Newcastle Jets substitutes: 17. Grace MACINTYRE, 18. Clare WHEELER, 20. Renee RUDDER (GK), 24. Brooke MILLER.


Brisbane Roar: 20. Kate STEWART (GK), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN (Crummer), 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Hayley RASO, 7. Kim CARROL, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 10. Katrina-Lee GORRY, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC (45’ GIELNIK), 13. Tameka BUTT.

Brisbane Roar substitutions: 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Sunny FRANCO, 21. Teagan MICAH (GK).