Jen Hoy was the hero for the Jets on a dramatic afternoon in Newcastle as the Jets claimed a 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar.
The major talking point was the controversial sending off of Brisbane goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold in the 81st minute. Arnold after catching a cross bumped off Jets striker Jen Hoy with her left shoulder and with a short consultation with her assistant, referee Kate Patterson pointed to the spot and showed Arnold the red card.
Jets midfielder Arin Gilliland hit the ensuing penalty like a rocket at substitute keeper Georgina Worth who jumped up to her right and brilliantly parried it over the bar.
It was the Jets who would bounce back from that disappointment though in stoppage time when Rhali Dobson darted down the right and angled to the right edge of the six-yard box before playing a composed pass – drawing in Worth in the process – square to Hoy who tapped home to the delight of 2,146 home fans.
Newcastle started the match as the stronger side, running into a strong northerly breeze in the first half as Brisbane struggled to make their passes stick. They were rewarded in the ninth minute when Hoy headed home at the near post from a pinpoint Grace Macintyre cross.
The Jets held Brisbane for much of the half until the run of play when the ball deflected to Roar midfielder Amy Chapman just inside the top of the box. Jets’ defender Cassidy Davis stuck a boot out and tripped Chapman with a penalty awarded to the visitors.
Roar leading scorer Tameka Butt stepped up and rolled the penalty low towards the bottom left corner, just beyond the reach of Katelyn Rowland in the Jets goal, who got a hand to it but was unable to keep it out.
The sides headed to the sheds at 1-1, and it was the visitors who came out a totally different outfit. Katrina Gorry had the ball on a string and was causing headaches for the Jets defence until the match turned when Arnold was sent from the field.
