Newcastle Jets maintained their recent good form with a 4-2 win over near-neighbours Central Coast Mariners to overhaul Sydney FC and move into second position on the Westfield W-League table.
On the back of a comprehensive 4-1 rout of Perth Glory last week, the Jets raced to a two-goal lead at the interval but were made to work hard in the second period thanks to a spirited Mariners comeback.
The two teams turned on an action-packed second half in slippery conditions much to the delight of the small crowd in attendance.
The respective goalkeepers were rarely troubled in the opening half-hour though the Jets were causing problems through set-pieces with a number of corners, and notably a Kirsytn Pearce free-kick causing chaos in the Mariners penalty area.
It was no surprise that the Jets opened the scoring with a free-kick after the Jets’ Swedish midfielder Sanna Frostevall directed a header back into the danger area that was nodded over Lisa Hartley by Nicole Jones from 10 metres.
Almost from the recommencement Kyah Simon nearly evened the ledger drilling an effort from 20 metres but narrowly wide of the post with Alison Logue beaten.
A minute before the interval disaster struck the Mariners when Jets midfielder Emily van Egmond let fly from 25 metres with the shot proving too powerful for the outstretched Hartley.
The match turned from bad to worse for Hartley and the Mariners when van Egmond repeated the effort from an acute angle almost immediately after the break though this time the Jets midfielder was aided by a wicked deflection.
The Mariners though, much like their male counterparts, have consistently shown their resilience and fighting qualities and they immediately set about trying to repair the damage.
Simon leaped high to head a fine Jodie Bain cross narrowly wide, before Renee Rollason pulled a goal back with a smart finish from a Karina Roweth ball that was whipped in from the right flank
Playing in a more withdrawn role than usual, Simon as always caused plenty of trouble for the opposition defence and she looked set to score only to see her shot go narrowly past the post after Logue couldn’t hold the effort.
From the ensuing corner Theresa Polias’ ball lead to an almighty goalmouth scramble as the momentum of the match took a sudden shift in direction.
The Jets withstanding a 20-minute barrage of intense pressure from the Mariners despite the former being without their inspirational skipper Cheryl Salisbury who had been substituted on the hour mark.
The match though was put out of reach for the young Mariners when seasoned Jets midfielder Joanne Peters scored a stunning goal with 13 remaining.
The Matildas veteran unleashing an unstoppable fierce looping strike over Hartley from a 45-degree angle.
The Mariners though were not flattened yet continuing to work hard and press their opposition.
The talismanic Simon received a ball from deep and in one movement controlled and volleyed the ball which crashed off the underside of the bar, denying the young gun what would have been a strong candidate for goal of the season.
Then Logue was forced into a superb reflex save at the near-post as the Mariners came home with a wet sail.
Simon finally got her just rewards in getting on the scoresheet with a close range header from near point-blank range with what was the last play of a match that proved an entertaining derby encounter.
Both coaches though were looking for more from their charges, “We need to be stronger in the middle and keep up that strength for 90 minutes,” said Jets boss Gary Phillips.
“At times again were we just lazy in the midfield and turned the ball over when we shouldn’t have and the Central Coast were quick to jump on those mistakes.”
Mariners mentor Stephen Roche rightly lamented his sides luck over recent matches.
“Again we have played some good football, though once more we have conceded goals against the run of play,” he said.
“As has been the case recently, our opposition has scored during our best moment of play which is really disappointing.”
The win was the first on the road for the Jets who are now looking very strong candidates for the finals, having recently been boosted by Kiwi international Rebecca Smith and Swedish midfielder Sanna Frostevall.
For the second consecutive week the Jets scoring four goals despite the absence for this match of their suspended star striker Katie Gill.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Renee Rollason 65-, Kyah Simon 91+-)
Newcastle Jets 4 (Nicole Jones 34-, Emily Van Egmond 44-/46-, Joanne Peters 77-)
Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Crowd: 211
Saturday 29 November 2008
Referee: Kirralee Gardener
Assistant Referees: Leanne Smith & Ariane Nemorin
Fourth Official: Amelia Morris
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 20.Lisa HARTLEY (gk), 2.Caitlin COOPER (c), 3.Lyndsay GLOHE, 4.Rachael DOYLE, 5.Jodie BAIN, 6.Karina ROWETH, 7.Teresa POLIAS, 8.Renee ROLLASON, 10.Kyah SIMON, 13.Trudy CAMILLERI, 17.Britt SIMMONS (23.Jenna KINGSLEY 46-)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk), 12.Gill FOSTER, 16.Kathryn PRYER.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets line-up: 1.Alison LOGUE (gk), 5.Cheryl SALISBURY (c) (9.Rhali DOBSON 62-), 6.Amber NEILSON, 7.Gema SIMON, 10.Joanne PETERS (3.Samantha WOOD 91+-), 11.Stacey DAY, 14.Nicole JONES (4.Elizabeth SHARPE 89-), 15.Emily VAN EGMOND, 16.Kirstyn PEARCE, 18.Rebecca SMITH, 19.Sanna FROSTEVALL
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Sanna Frostevall 63-, Rebecca Smith 77-
Red Cards: Nil
