Lachie Bayliss stunner sets scene as Newcastle crush Wellington

A stunning Lachie Bayliss strike has set the tone for Newcastle as they beat Wellington 4-1 at McDonald Jones Stadium to equal their club record of four consecutive wins.

Clayton Taylor and Eli Adams joined Bayliss on the score sheet, while Wellington’s new Norwegian signing Sander Kartum threw the Nix a lifeline to score his debut Isuzu UTE A-Leagues goal in the 86th minute.

Xaver Bertoncello immediately snuffed out those hopes with a fourth goal Jets three minutes later.

The win puts Newcastle up to second on the Isuzu UTE A-League table, equal on points with and just a single goal behind Auckland in first.

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Bayliss opened the scoring inside 21 seconds with a stunning strike, picking up the ball well outside the area, fashioning himself some space, and exploding a shot into the top right corner from 25 metres out.

Wellington weren’t overawed by the incredible goal though, coming back hard at Newcastle and forcing goalkeeper James Delianov into a string of first half saves to preserve the Jets’ lead.

Delianov’s four saves to half time included a truly remarkable triple effort that would have left the Nix wondering what they had to do to score.

Delianov’s work paid off for the Jets early in the the second half, with Taylor’s neat shift on to his right foot from a tidy Daniel Wilmering buying him the space to fire a shot past an unsighted Eamonn McCarron in Wellington’s goal in the 56th minute.

Adams found his way on to the scoresheet again in the 70th minute from a pinpoint Bayliss ball to the penalty spot that found the 23-year-old arriving late to pass the ball past McCarron, who had a good game despite the scoreline.

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Wellington’s new signing Kartum gave the Phoenix hope in the 86th minute with a quality curling finish from inside the box, but Joe Bertolissio plated up Bertoncello to close the door in the last minute of regulation time.

The Box Office Jets take on Brisbane next Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium, while Wellington host reigning champions Melbourne City next Friday evening.