Newcastle Jets’ 10-game winless run is over after two goals from Sophie Hoban saw them defeat Perth Glory 2-1 on Saturday evening, despite being reduced to 10 players in the second half.
The Jets took the lead in just the second minute as Hoban’s attempted cross into the box sailed over the keeper and into the back of the net in the Ninja A-League.
Hoban then doubled her tally for the afternoon less than two minutes later, slotting home from close range after the ball fell loose inside the box.
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Perth began the second-half with nothing to lose and pulled themselves back into the contest in the 56th minute care of Ella Lincoln’s low drive.
The home side were then reduced to 10 players in the 77th minute after Libby Copus-Brown was sent off after she was adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity after bringing down Megan Wynne.
However, Newcastle held off the late advances of Perth Glory to seal just their third win of the season and move four points clear of last-placed Sydney FC.
As for Perth, defeat against the Jets is their 10th of the campaign and they now sit just a point ahead of their opponents in 10th on the ladder.
The Jets came out firing at No.2 Sportsground and took the lead within the opening two minutes of the game.
Swinging a deep cross into the box from the right, Hoban overcooked her delivery but it turned out to be perfect as keeper Miranda Templeman could only watch as the ball nestled into the far corner.
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Already a goal down, the home side then doubled that tally almost immediately and it was Hoban again.
Starting the move in midfield, Hoban continued her run into the box and when the ball fell kindly at her feet after Templeman could only parry, the midfielder had the simplest of tap-ins to make it 2-0.
Hoban was then inches away from completing a first-half hat-trick but the midfielder fired her shot from inside the box over the bar in a huge let-off for the away side.
Looking for something different in the second-half, Perth eventually established a foothold in the game in the 56th minute as Lincoln found the bottom corner with a well taken finish to breathe life into the Glory.
Both sides had good chances to score in the second half but the game then exploded into life in the 77th minute when Copus-Brown was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
As such, the Jets defended for their lives late on and, despite some intense late pressure, held on for just their third win of the season to move clear of bottom side Sydney FC and with it, bring an end to their 10-game winless run.
