Newcastle Jets star Natasha Prior believes her side could be the team to finally end Melbourne City’s record unbeaten streak in the Ninja A-League.
Prior came off the bench in the 70th minute to earn her seventh cap for Australia on what was a memorable night for the CommBank Matildas in Newcastle on Monday.
Played out in front of a record crowd of 28,019 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Manchester City midfielder Mary Fowler gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half-time with a well-taken finish.
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Dominating the contest in Newcastle, the Matildas eventually put the game to bed in the 63rd minute as former Melbourne City defender Kaitlyn Torpey rifled home a second with the aid of a deflection on the line to make it back-to-back wins over Korea Republic in the space of four days.
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Now ready to return to Ninja A-League duty, Prior’s Newcastle Jets travel to AAMI Park on Friday night to face league leaders Melbourne City in a game that could decide this season’s Premiers Plate.
Sat top of the table and still unbeaten after 21 games, Melbourne City sit two points clear of rivals Melbourne Victory with two games left to play while the Jets sit second bottom and out of finals contention.
However Prior says her side will be heading to Melbourne full of confidence and even believes they can inflict a first loss of the season on the home side.
“I have a good feeling,” quipped Prior when speaking with reporters after the game in Newcastle.
“I don’t know if it will come to fruition, but I have a very good feeling.
Tash Prior on Newcastle Jets’ clash with Melbourne City on Friday night.
She added: “I’ve been speaking to Holly Mac (McNamara) in the changing room so it’s on!”
Prior and the Jets head into the contest having most recently been defeated 2-0 by Western United at home in Round 21.
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If the Jets do get the job done and end the unbeaten run on Friday night then it will surely be one of the upsets of the Ninja A-League season given Newcastle have never beaten City in the competition in 18 attempts.
As for City, they will clinch a second consecutive Ninja A-League Premiership should they defeat the Jets and Melbourne Victory then fail to beat Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium in the second fixture on Friday night.
