Newcastle United extended their unbeaten run to five games as they pulled off an against-the-run-of-play triumph over North Queensland Fury.
Despite being on the back foot for the bulk of the Hyundai A-League clash at Dairy Farmers Stadium, two late goals ensured the Jets left Townsville 2-nil winners.
It saw resurgent Newcastle surge to within one point of the Hyundai A-League top six.
But for much of the contest it appeared it would be the Fury that continued their unbeaten sequence and climb off the bottom of the ladder.
Jets coach Branco Culina hailed the guts and determination of his side.
“After a five-game series where there was a lot of football against good, quality opposition and then the high of playing against (LA) Galaxy and (David) Beckham, it was always going to be difficult for the players,” he said.
“But we said this is one of those games where you have just got to do whatever it takes but win and I thought we did that today superbly.”
Fury coach Franz Straka cast a frustrated figure post game, admitting a tired NQ ran out of legs following their third game in six days.
“We were so strong in the first half, it was definitely an unlucky game,” he said.
“But in the second half we had no more power.”
After a dominant first half, the break did nothing drain the Fury of their desire to aim raid after raid on Newcastle-s goal, but an opener continued to elude the home team.
Moments after resumption, Fury-s Gareth Edds sprayed his shot over the post.
Newcastle were forced to resort to long-range speculators as the local-s defence strangled their offensive efforts, but failed to trouble NQFC custodian Justin Pasfield.
However the Jets, riding high on confidence following four undefeated games in the A-League, were not going to give up a shot at another three points without a fight.
And Jobe Wheelhouse showed exactly that in the 72nd minute when he and Ali Abbas combined for Newcastle-s most promising raid on goal for the entire contest.
While the header went wide, it set the tone for a change of fortunes for the Jets.
Five minutes later, Nick Topor-Stanley popped up for just his second career goal when he rose above the Fury defence from a Kasey Wherman corner to silence the small but parochial Townsville crowd.
