The Melbourne Victory women’s team clinched their third win of the season thanks to a last-gasp goal from substitute Deanna Niceski deep into stoppage time.
The game looked set for a draw after Newcastle levelled on 62 minutes through Renee Cartwright, but Niceski managed to fire home with virtually the last kick of the game to gift the Victory a precious 2-1 win.
The game, played at Bulleen’s Veneto Club, was the first Westfield W-League fixture ever played on artificial turf after it was moved earlier in the week due to the poor condition of Bob Jane Stadium’s surface.
The win now sees the Victory move up to third on the Westfield W-League ladder ahead of the remaining fixtures in Round 5.
And it was the home side that looked most at ease on the foreign surface in the first half with the Victory girls full of run despite the 30 degree heat.
Melbourne looked lively in the opening exchanges with Kara Mowbray finding plenty of space on the left wing, only to spurn two good chances while through on goal.
Enza Barilla found plenty of it, the diminutive midfielder showing good touch in centre midfield as the side spread the ball well, utilising Mowbray and the tricky Vedrana Popovic on the right.
On 38 minutes Mowbray crossed in for Katie Thorlakson to tap home, but the celebrations where short lived with the referee calling it back for offside.
The Jets, who had only managed to score one goal before the clash, were again limp in attack up until half time.
For all their dominance it looked as if the Victory would go into the main break without reward but Katrina Gorry found space to slot home from close range after a clever cut back from Thorlakson right on the stroke of half time.
Both sides changed things around after the break with the Jets bringing on Bronte Bates for Loren Mahoney and the Victory replacing Maika Ruyter-Hooley with Sarah Groeneweld.
Newcastle worked their way back into the contest early in the second half with forward Kate Hensman manufacturing two good chances to force saves out of Victory co-captain Melissa Barbieri.
On 58 minutes the Victory swung the changes again, taking off a tiring Thorlakson for forward Deanna Niceski.
The Jets noticeably lifted the tempo and caught a lacklustre Victory defence off guard on 62 minutes with Renee Cartwright nipping in to arrow a left foot shot in the top corner to level the scores at 1-1.
Having been on the back foot for much of the day it was the Jets that started to find space out wide and threaten the Victory goal.
But with the heat starting to take its toll on the players a share of the spoils looked imminent before sub Niceski finished well for Melbourne’s second injury time goal of the game.
It was a solid all-round performance from Melbourne, with the side knocking the ball around very well at times. It was a credit to Newcastle who showed much more fight in the second half to turn things around.
The Jets will feel aggrieved at the late sucker-punch but on the balance of play the Victory were good value for their three points.
Melbourne Victory 2
(Gorry 45′, Niceski 90+’)
Newcastle Jets 1
(Cartwright 62′)
Statistics
Melbourne Victory
Goals – 2
Goal Attempts – 14
Cards – 1 (y)
Fouls – 3
Corner – 6
Saves – 3
Newcastle Jets
Goals – 1
Goal Attempts – 7
Cards – 1 (y)
Fouls – 7
Corner – 1
Saves – 5
