Queensland Roar returned to the Westfield W-League winners’ circle with a solid 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets in wet conditions at Lismore on the NSW North Coast.
Queensland Roar returned to the Westfield W-League winners’ circle with a solid 2-0 win over the Newcastle Jets in wet conditions at Lismore on the NSW North Coast.
Goals at either end of the match from youngster Courtney Beutel and Matildas midfielder Lauren Colthorpe ensured victory for a star-studded Roar side that suffered a shock home loss seven days earlier against Canberra United.
Young Roar goalkeeper Casey Dumont was rushed back into the line-up after returning from Young Matildas duty in Kuala Lumpur just hours prior to kick-off. However other national team members Tameka Butt and Ruth Blackburn remained out of the frame while Elise Kellond-Knight started from the bench after recent injury.
For the Jets young gun Emily van Egmond is still absent, joining the Australian Under 17 team for this week’s World Cup qualifying campaign having already served duty with the Young Matildas over the last fortnight.
The Roar started brightly in front over 1,000 spectators at the pleasant surrounds of Oakes Oval after a slight delay to proceedings due to a heavy downpour.
The promising opening for the Roar quickly translating to the scoresheet with teenager Beutel, playing up front in the absence of the injured Jenna Tristram, grabbing her first Westfield W-League goal with a close-range header.
The Jets weren’t without their own offensive forays with Leia Smith and Katie Gill trying their luck but unable to breach the Roar goal with Dumont displaying impeccable handling in the tricky conditions.
The second half was a hard-fought affair with Jets veteran duo Cheryl Salisbury and Joanne Peters earning the ire of the referee and the only cautions of the match in a matter of minutes mid-way through the second half.
Both teams played with enthusiasm creating several shots on goal but all to no avail until six minutes from full time when former Novacastrian Colthorpe scored with an impressive 20-metre strike to seal the win.
“The conditions were quite slippery under foot but the team adapted extremely well in difficult circumstances,” said Roar coach Jeff Hopkins.
“What was really pleasing today was the attitude we went out with. We closed down, we worked hard and were well organized defensively, which maybe wasn’t the case last week.”
The win lifts the Roar back to second spot on the table and the same position they held a fortnight ago after Round one.
For the Jets it was their second loss on the trot, and they now have a week to regroup before facing a difficult away match against competition leaders Sydney FC.
Match Details
Newcastle Jets 0
Queensland Roar 2 (Courtney Beutel 14′, Lauren Colthorpe 84′)
Oakes Oval, Lismore
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Attendance: 1,140
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Newcastle Jets line-up: 1.Alison LOGUE (gk), 5.Cheryl SALISBURY (c), 6.Amber NEILSON, 7.Gema SIMON , 8.Leia SMITH (18.Taleah DOYLE 75-), 10.Joanne PETERS, 11.Stacey DAY, 12. Katie GILL, 14.Nicole JONES (9.Rhali DOBSON 68-), 16.Kirstyn PEARCE, 17.Harmony ATTWILL (13.Gemma O-TOOLE 81-)
Substitutes Not Used: 4.Elizabeth SHARPE
Yellow Cards: Katie Gill 44-, Cheryl Salisbury 64-, Kirstyn Pearce 70-)
Red Cards: Nil
Queensland Roar line-up: 1.Casey DUMONT (gk), 2.Kate McSHEA (c), 3.Karla REUTER (19.Ellen BEAUMONT 80-), 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5.Brooke SPENCE, 7.Kim CARROLL, 9.Alicia FERGUSON, 10.Lana HARCH (15.Stephanie LATHAM 87-), 16.Lauren COLTHORPE, 17.Tashina ROMA (8.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT 58-), 18.Courtney BEUTEL
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Lara BOON (gk)
Yellow Cards: Kate McShea 77-
Red Cards: Nil
