Newcastle Jets have given themselves a chance of Westfield W-League finals action after shocking Perth Glory 3-1 at No. 2 Sportsground on Saturday evening.
Three second half goals to Arin Wright, Tara Andrews and Cortnee Vine cancelled out Sam Kerr’s record 50th strike in Glory colours to keep their dream of post-season participation alive.
Given the hot conditions it was perhaps understandable that neither side was able to create any clear-cut chances during the opening half hour while the Jets had to make do without key midfield cog Emily Van Egmond after the skipper was ruled out for the rest of the season with injury.
Things did eventually heat up however (on the pitch) when Glory forward Rachel Hill had two shots blocked by the Jets defence and a minute later Hill was again involved as Perth took the lead through Kerr.
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The marquee striker latched onto a Hill cross and emphatically headed home to give the visitors the lead as well as notch up a half century of goals in purple.
Newcastle should have gone into the break level if not for a fantastic save by Eliza Campbell, the Glory goalkeeper making herself big to deny Jenna Kingsley from close range.
Whatever was said in the Jets’ rooms at half-time clearly worked as the Novocastrians re-entered the arena a completely changed outfit.
Hannah Brewer and Gema Simon both went close inside the first 10 minutes as the Jets attack marauded forward with what seemed like reckless abandon.
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If Perth weren’t aware of how much of a fight they had on their hands they were soon rudely awakened after Newcastle snatched the lead with two goals in seven minutes.
First Arin Wright’s left-footed strike from the top of the box beat the in-form Campbell at her far post to even proceedings.
Then a mistake from Glory defender Kim Carroll was pounced on by Tara Andrews and duly dispatched into the back of the net via a couple of defenders.
Jets goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom came up big late on to deny a Kerr effort before Vine secured all three points with an injury time strike on the counter-attack.
