Newcastle Jets have opened their Westfield W-League account with a 2-0 win over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.
A double to former Brisbane Roar striker Sasha McDonnell in the space of five minutes was enough for the visitors to claim all three points.
The Reds had started the better of the two sides with Melbourne Victory recruit Katrina Gorry controlling the midfield with Vedrana Popovic busy out wide.
United’s international signing Ashleigh Gunning, who was making her Reds’ debut after joining from USL W-League, enjoyed a couple of chances in the opening stages and looked a constant threat.
It took Newcastle at least a quarter of an hour to find their rhythm and it was the Jets who had the best chances of the first half to open the scoring.
McDonnell was teed up nicely after a slick exchange of passes involving Kara Mowbray and Amber Nielson, but the striker blasted her shot into Reds keeper Sian McLaren.
A minute later and McDonnell should have found the back of the net after a delightful cross from Hannah Brewer.
The right back cut off a poor pass out of defence from United and whipped a ball into the box to find McDonnell lurking.
The Jets’ no. 9 stuck out a leg and tried to toe-poke it past McLaren but the Reds custodian managed to get a glove to the shot and force it wide.
In the 55th minute the Jets again demonstrated their sweet passing with McDonnell getting on the end of a clever build up.
The striker hit it from the edge of the area and had Reds keeper McLaren beaten but stopper Ruth Blackburn tracked back to clear off the line and out for a corner.
Reds substitute Victoria Balomenos injected some spark into the home side and nearly broke the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining, but her long range effort was tipped over the bar by Jets keeper, Allison Lipsher – also in her W-League debut after arriving from the USA.
Minutes later, McDonnell thought she opened the scoring but was again denied by the brilliant reflexes of McLaren in the Reds goal.
In the 83rd minute though, it was McDonnell who finally got the break through after some confusion at a thrown in the Jets’ defence half.
Newcastle took the throw quickly and the Jets striker was released and finished cooly from just inside the area to give the visitors the lead.
Five minutes later and McDonnell put the result beyond doubt in a carbon copy of her first.
The no. 9 was put through and delightfully chipped McLaren for her second.
Adelaide United 0
Newcastle Jets 2
