The Newcastle Jets have given their long-suffering fans something to cheer about registering a deserved 2-1 win over the Perth Glory in their Round 20 Hyundai A-League clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday evening.
The Jets dominated the bottom-of-the-table encounter with goals to defenders Antun Kovacic and Mark Milligan either side of half-time to make it 2-0 before Perth got one back against the run of play via Scott Bulloch in the 65th minute.
But the Jets steadied and sealed just their fourth win of the season in front of 6665 fans in their last home game of the 2008/09 campaign. Despite the win, the Novocastrians are still propping up the Hyundai A-League table on 18 points four short of Perth who remain on 22 with one round left to play.
Both sides came into the match seriously undermanned and featuring a preview of seasons to come with a number of youth league players on the pitch. Consequently it took a while for both teams the players to establish a flow but it was Newcastle who controlled the early exchanges.
Matt Thompson, skippering the side in the absence of the injured Joel Griffiths, had the first shot-on goal in the fourth minute forcing Velaphi into a good diving save.
Jobe Wheelhouse shot from the edge of the area in the 19th minute which was again well saved by Velaphi.
Wheelhouse worked a snappy one-two with Youth League striker Brodie Mooy but somehow pushed his shot wide when just one on one with Velaphi and just 12-yards out.
The Jets eventually profited from their pressure when Kovacic met Kaz Patafta-s corner just in front of Glory defender Jamie Harnwell and powered a diving header into the back of the net.
The Jets continued to hold the momentum and almost grabbed another goal before the interval with Tarek Elrich scooping his shot over the crossbar before Wheelhouse sliced his volley wide after meeting a dangerous-looking Thompson cross at the top of the penalty area.
The Jets continued their assault in the opening stages of the second half with Thompson and Patafta finding space down the left flank and working the ball into the area.
Mooy was on the end of one such foray and slide a nice through ball for Thompson who was brought down in the box by Glory defender David Tarka. Referee Griffiths-Jones had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Milligan stepped up to confidently drill home the shot to make it 2-0 after 55 minutes.
Perth pinched a goal back when Wayne Srhoj eluded some tired looking Jets defence down the left wing before crossing to an unmarked Bulloch who slotted home from six yards out to make it 2-1 with 25 minutes left to play.
The goal spurred Perth to launch a number of promising attacks as the visitors controlled play for the next 10 minutes. But scrambling defence from Ant Covic, Ben Kantarovski and Milligan steadied the ship for the Jets and they managed to wrestle back control of the match and register their first win since December.
Newcastle Jets 2
(Kovacic 40, Milligan 55p)
Perth Glory 1
(Bulloch 65)
Crowd 6665 at Energy Australia Stadium
