Newcastle Jets have bounced back to form in devastating fashion, crushing a hapless Central Coast Mariners 8-2 in a crazy F3 Derby in Gosford on Saturday night.
After losing their last three Hyundai A-League games, Ernie Merrickās side were desperate to turn things around before the finals and did just that and more at the expense of their bitter rivals.
The 10 goals scored is the record for a Hyundai A-League match, while itās also the first time the Jets have scored eight goals in a single game.
Riley McGree led the way for the visitors with a hat-trick, former Mariners striker Roy OāDonovan got a brace while Joey Champness, Lachlan Jackson and Dimitri Petratos also got on the scoresheet for the Jets.
With new coach Mike Mulvey watching from the stands, the Mariners were totally outclassed and have ended the season with the wooden spoon.
It was also a shattering end to the playing career of Mariners legend Josh Rose, who has retired from playing.
SEE ALL THE GOALS IN OUR LIVE MATCH CENTRE
Newcastle have DOMINATED the F3 Derby with a huge 8-2 victory over Central Coast!#F3Derby #ALeague pic.twitter.com/SDd48lCpOX
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) April 14, 2018
STORY OF THE GAME
GOAL! Great start for the Jets as Champness puts them in front inside 10 minutes.
GOAL! Former Mariner OāDonovan doubles the Jetsā lead with a simple one-on-one finish.
GOAL! The Jets were running riot with McGree making it 3-0 inside 25 minutes.
OFF THE POST! A Mariners counter attack ends with Connor Pain isolating his defender on the left, the winger cutting in side and shooting with his rasping drive smashing into the post and rebounding away.
GOAL! Pain gives the Mariners a glimmer of hope with a goal back just before the break.
HALF-TIME: Newcastleās early onslaught has them firmly in control at the break, leading 3-1.
GOAL! McGree grabs his second of the night to restore the Jetsā three-goal lead.
GOAL! Substitute Lachlan Jackson gets on the scoresheet from a corner to make it 5-1 just after the hour mark.
GOAL! OāDonovan converts from the penalty spot to score the Jetsā sixth goal of the night.
#THANKSROSEY: In his final game before retirement, Josh Rose was substituted to a rousing reception from the Mariners faithful with just under 20 minutes to go.
GOAL! McGree completes his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go.
GOAL! Trent Buhagiar comes off the bench to grab a consolation for the Mariners with 10 minutes to go.
GOAL! Just a minute later and the Jets score their eighth through Dimitri Petratos.
What a night! #CCMvNEW #F3Derby pic.twitter.com/NNOFZgaDwZ
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC āļø (@NewcastleJetsFC) April 14, 2018
GOALS
Joey Champness: Newcastle Jets 10ā 0-1
Daniel Georgievski and Riley McGree combined on the left to release Champness in the box and he slid and composed finish past Ben Kennedy in the Mariners goal.
Roy OāDonovan: Newcastle Jets 20ā 0-2
Too much time for Stephen Ugarkovic in midfield and he played a brilliant defence-splitting pass to get OāDonovan into the box and he made no mistake from close range.
Riley McGree: Newcastle Jets 24ā 0-3
Receiving the ball just outside the box, McGree turned the ball back onto his left foot and his low drive went across the keeper and nestled in the bottom corner.
Connor Pain: Central Mariners 39ā 1-3
Andrew Hoole fizzed a cross in from the right which Jack Duncan tipped into the path of Pain, with the Mariners winger calmly slotting into the open goal.
Riley McGree: Newcastle Jets 53ā 1-4
McGree picked up the ball about 25-yards from goal, taking on a couple of defenders before his low shot slipped under Kennedy and into the net.
Lachlan Jackson: Newcastle Jets 61ā 1-5
Dimitri Petratos swings a corner to the far post where Jackson arrived at the right time to leap above his marker and nod home.
Roy OāDonovan: Newcastle Jets 68ā 1-6
After Champness was brought down in the box for a penalty, OāDonovan stepped up and sent Kennedy the wrong way for his second of the night.
Riley McGree: Newcastle Jets 75ā 1-7
Another brilliant run and finish from McGree to score the first hat-trick of his career.
Trent Buhagiar: Central Coast Mariners 80ā 2-7
The substitute got on the end of Andrew Hooleās cross, taking one touch to control before guiding it home from six yards out.
Dimitri Petratos: Newcastle Jets 81ā 2-8
A jinking run by Pato Rodriguez ends with the Argentine crossing to Petratos who slammed it home with a clinical finish.
