Canberra United bagged three first-half goals against Newcastle Jets, and the early strikes were all the home side needed to emerge victorious at Viking Park on Friday evening.
Cassidy Davis’ record-equalling 108th A-Leagues appearance in succession ended in defeat as Canberra jumped above the Jets into sixth spot on the Liberty A-League table.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from a clash between sixth and seventh on the Liberty A-League table on Friday night.
MATCH REPORT: Heyman fires Canberra to 3-0 win over Jets
REACTION
Heyman’s lift in form proves Canberra’s dependance on her individual class
It’s indicative of Canberra United’s reliance on the form of Michelle Heyman that the team from the nation’s capital haven’t won a game in the past two seasons without the legendary striker’s name on the scoresheet.
Heyman added goals five and six for the season to her tally in Canberra’s comfortable 3-0 win over Newcastle Jets at Viking Park on Friday afternoon.
It’s the second win Canberra have notched in three games after going winless through their first nine – and it’s no surprise that form has coincided with Heyman returning to her brilliant best.
Heyman has featured in all 12 Canberra games this season to date – and here’s the breakdown of her output:
- First nine games: two goals, one assist in four draws and five defeats (four points)
- Last three games: four goals, one assist in two wins and a draw (seven points)
Heyman returned from retirement at the start of last season to guide Canberra back to the finals for the first time in four seasons – winning the Julie Dolan Medal as the league’s best player in a sparkling campaign.
Since her comeback Canberra have won eight games. Heyman has scored in every single one of those wins.
In fact, in the 10 games in which she’s scored since returning, only one of those ended in defeat (a 2-1 loss to Adelaide in December 2021).
It points to a clear trend in Canberra’s fortunes: When Heyman’s on song, so is her team. But former Canberra forward Grace Gill says it’s not just her scoring figures which make Heyman such a great asset to Vicki Linton’s side.
“It’s lovely to see Heyman doing what she does (best), which is putting the ball in the back of the net,” Gill said on the Paramount+ post-game show.
“Her eyes were wide for that third, she was definitely chasing the hat-trick late in the game, but it’s really great to see her back in some better form.”
Gill added: “I think something Michelle does really well is even if she’s not scoring the goals she draws defenders in. And not just one defender; two or three defenders.”
It was a trait Heyman put on display for her side’s opener against the Jets, drawing a handful of Jets defenders into her path to allow Allira Toby to sneak into the most dangerous of areas unmarked to finish with ease.
Speaking to Paramount+ sideline reporter Russ Gibbs after her two-goal display, Heyman said it was important for her to secure her brace just before the break, after Canberra’s last Liberty A-League outing in which a two-goal lead was not enough to secure all three points in a game against Melbourne Victory which ended as a 2-2 draw.
“I wanted to go out of the first half with an extra goal,” Heyman said. “Last week we were up 2-0 and we didn’t come away with the result so I thought three would be better.
“What we’re working at (for) our next games is to keep improving, keep having fun; I know we can’t reach finals but let’s try hit it off with something special.”
Davis’ not-so-secret approach to astounding A-Leagues longevity
As her side lost 3-0 to Canberra United on Friday evening, Newcastle defender Cassidy Davis equalled the longest streak of consecutive A-Leagues appearances with her 108th Liberty A-League game in succession.
Davis said it was a good moment personally to reach the record – and with three games left to play this season, it’s now time for Davis to breach it.
Davis’ 108-straight Jets appearances have all come since her debut for the club – a phenomenal achievement for a player who looks set to claim sole ownership of the record currently shared with former Jets Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Steven Ugarkovic, who both reached the magic number of 108 in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
But in the aftermath of her historic Jets appearance, the overriding emotion was disappointment at her side’s fifth loss of the season.
“I’m obviously disappointed with the result,” Davis told Paramount+ after losing 3-0 and rescinding sixth spot on the table to Canberra. “We didn’t show up and that’s what happens.”
“We need to be better and even though we can’t make (finals) we still need to play with pride and play for the town. It just wasn’t good enough from the girls.”
Davis added: “It’s a good moment to reach this record, but I just play each game as it comes.
“There’s no real secret to playing this many games, I guess just looking after myself and a bit of luck.
“It’s good, but it would’ve been better with three points.”
Re-live: Canberra v Jets – as it unfolded
FULL-TIME: CANBERRA 3-0 JETS
CHANCE! Brodigan fires wide for the Jets (6.35pm AEDT)
Ashlee Brodigan has wasted Newcastle’s best chance of the game, sliding her shot from inside the box wide of the mark in the 50th minute of play.
The Jets are three goals down with 40 minutes to play at Viking Park.
HALF-TIME: All the goals from a sharp Canberra display
GOAL! Heyman adds another as Canberra go 3-0 up (6.10pm AEDT)
It’s 3-0 to the hosts before the break as Heyman gets her brace, capitalising on a defensive error by Tiana Jaber to swoop in, drive into the box, shrug off the incoming challengers and find the back of the net on the slide.
GOAL! Keir to Haran to Heyman as Canberra skipper makes it two (5.56pm AEDT)
That’s goal number five for the season to Michelle Heyman, who puts Canberra 2-0 ahead just before the half-hour mark.
It was central defender Lauren Keir providing the service from a corner routine once more, picking out Ally Haran with a ball to the back post.
Haran towered over the pack to direct a strong header toward the danger area where Heyman was ready to leap and head home.
GOAL! Toby back in the XI, and back on the scoresheet (5.39pm AEDT)
Newcastle’s inability to clear from a Canberra corner routine led to an Allira Toby opening goal with 12 minutes on the clock.
The initial ball was repelled by the visitors but Canberra swung the ball back into the danger area; Heyman did well to win the ball in the box under immense pressure and poke it through for Toby who was all alone for the easy finish.
House goes down with knee injury after collision with Lincoln (5.37pm AEDT)
Teenage Canberra keeper Chloe Lincoln and Newcastle’s Jemma House both showed great commitment to the cause as they came together in the box, with House tracking down a ball dribbling toward goal.
Lincoln got low to collect the ball, and collected House along the way. The Jets forward was helped from the ground, with Lauren Allan replacing House in the 13th minute.
KICK-OFF: A rain-soaked Viking Park the venue for Davis’ record afternoon (5.25pm AEDT)
It’s a wet one in Canberra, with rain falling heavily at Viking Park leading up to kick-off.
It’s Canberra live-wire Hayley Taylor-Young’s 20th birthday today; she starts for Vicki Linton’s side whilst Davis’ 108th-consecutive A-Leagues appearance officially gets underway.
All 108 of those appearance have come in succession since Davis’ league debut. Outstanding stuff from the Jets leader.
We’re underway at Viking Park!
PRE-GAME
At long last, Canberra United are a team in form this season. It took 10 games for United to notch their first win, and that came in style in a 5-0 triumph over Western Sydney. A 2-2 draw against top-four outfit Victory was next, which leads Vicki Linton’s team into their clash with Jets riding a wave of confidence.
Newcastle’s slender finals hopes were quashed in midweek – but the Jets won’t want to switch off against Canberra, who can jump above them into sixth spot with a win on Friday night.
