Newcastle Jets have put away the AIS 4-0 in their round eight encounter at the AIS Athletics Track on Saturday afternoon.
Newcastle Jets have put away the AIS 4-0 in their round eight encounter at the AIS Athletics Track on Saturday afternoon.
A brace to Chris Payne in the first half set up the Jets, who were in control from start to finish while the AIS struggled to put it together in attack.
Newcastle got off to the perfect start with Payne converting from the penalty spot in the opening seconds.
The AIS recovered from the early setback and looked solid in the midfield, but Newcastle were pressing for a second.
They nearly had it in the 20th minute, but with Paul Izzo stranded out of his goals Jack Green was able to save a certain goal wit his head.
Minutes later Scott Galloway nearly levelled for the AIS but Jack Duncan produced a fantastic save to deny him.
The AIS had plenty of ball in the midfield but struggled to turn it into any threatening attacks.
Meanwhile Payne was wreaking havoc up front, finding plenty of space and asking many questions of Izzo.
In the 26th minute Jacob Pepper put in a cross which went through three defenders to find Payne in front of goal but he shot straight into Izzo.
Minutes later Payne executed a powerful header again directly into Izzo.
But he was able to make amends moments later when Scott Pettit crossed to him with Izzo again out of his goals and he made no mistake with an easy header.
Late in the half Payne was again in the thick of it, Mason Campbell putting through the perfect through ball to catch him on the run but Izzo saved his powerful shot.
The AIS nearly stole a goal right on half time, Jakob Williams winning the ball on halfway and legging it towards goal but his lofted cross to Michael Taurasi was just dragged down by Duncan.
The Jets started the second half cautiously, holding up the ball and protecting their lead.
Their strategy paid off when Pettit created something out of nothing, curling in a great shot over Izzo to put the result beyond doubt.
The AIS nearly hit back immediately but Williams’ shot was parried into the crossbar and minutes later he had another powerful shot but it went directly to Duncan.
The Jets extended their lead in the 69th minute when substitute Kyle Ewart used his fresh legs to run onto a long goal kick and put it past Izzo.
The AIS kept trying in an open finish, with John Karatzas twice going close, but the Jets came away with a deserved victory.
Newcastle 3 (Payne 1m (pen) 34m, Pettit 50m, Ewart 69m)
AIS 0
