Melbourne City love playing against Newcastle Jets. The proof is in the numbers after the Liberty A-League title hopefuls emerged 2-0 victors.
Hannah Wilkinson scored twice in six second-half minutes to not only take her season tally to eight goals but help snap City’s five-match winless run on Sunday.
City are now undefeated in all their 15 A-League games against Newcastle (W14
D1); it’s the most matches any team has played against another without losing in the history of the competition.
Dario Vidosic’s City preserved their spot in second in the table, while the Jets remain sixth and only in the finals places on goals scored.
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Kick-off was delayed an hour to extreme heat in Melbourne, where Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara playing her first game for City on home soil.
The experienced shot-stopper was called into action by Elizabeth Copus-Brown inside six minutes, while Jets keeper Isobel Nino made a save on the line to wart Wilkson approaching the half-hour mark.
City appeared to have struck first in the 35th minute as Kiera Meyers thought she had celebrated her maiden Liberty A-League goal. However, it was eventually ruled out for offside after the referee consulted her lineswoman.
At the other end, Sarina Bolden nearly put the Jets ahead after a sublime pass from Copus-Brown picked out the Philippines international, who rattled the crossbar five minutes prior to the interval.
City did get their goal five minutes into the second half – Wilkinson made no mistake from close range.
The New Zealander got her second goal within six minutes as the Bryleeh Henry-Wilkinson connection resulted in another routine goal.
There were a couple of opportunities for both sides, but City were not to be denied a first win in the league since January 20.
