Newcastle left it late to snatch the three points in a 1-0 Liberty A-League win over the Wellington Phoenix in Gosford.
Substitute Jemma House was on hand to bundle in from close range in the 82nd minute after a Cass Davis shot cannoned off the crossbar and into her path.
In truth, it was perhaps undeserved for the Jets who were forced to go long against a Phoenix outfit who had shown a marked improvement from their 5-1 loss when the two sides met a fortnight ago.
Wellington could well have won and had appeals for penalty waved away in the last half-hour of play when Chloe Knott was ankle tapped by Tiana Jaber inside the box.
But House was in the right place at the right time to net her first goal at this level and move the Jets into fourth spot on the ladder.
“It still kind of feels surreal,” House said. “That monkey is off the back now.
“I’ve been waiting a little while and it’s nice to have that done and to have the winning goal.
“There were a lot of opportunities we could’ve finished and it was nice to get it done.”
The last time the two sides met, the Jets were buoyed by the arrival of Emily van Egmond but any fears of a repeat were mislaid with the Matildas midfielder unable to conjure up anything that troubled the youthful Phoenix.
Wellington’s intensity in defence meant the Jets were forced to adopt a direct approach as they sought out Tara Andrews and Marie Dolvik, both of whom were marshalled out of the game.
After the break the Jets began with purpose as Andrews and van Egmond tested Lily Alfeld in the Phoenix net but on both occasions the No. 1 was up to the task.
A ball then spun across the wet surface in Knott’s direction with an hour of play gone.
She went down after being clipped by Jaber from behind in the box but referee Georgia Ghirardello saw no issue with the challenge and waved play on.
Wellington were forced to fight for the last 15 minutes with Liz Eddy and Kirsty Fenton both asking questions of Alfeld, and eventually the sustained pressure began to tell.
Davis fired a shot from the edge of the box and the deflection bounced down towards House who poked home to give the Jets victory.
“I’m gutted, so gutted for the girls I think they put in an immense shift,” said Alfeld.
“From the last time we played Newcastle it was night and day difference. I’m so proud of the girls for turning it around and sticking to our game plan.”
