Cortnee Vine’s stunning strike handed Newcastle Jets their first win of the Westfield W-League season as they beat Canberra United 1-0.
The 20-year-old produced an effort worthy of deciding any encounter with the final kick of the first half and it was nothing more than the dominant hosts deserved.
It ended a decade-long wait for a home victory for the Jets against the capital side, who had started the season impressively with six goals and four points from their first two games.
MATCH REPORT: Victory claim bragging rights
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Both sides made three changes, with Westfield Matildas captain Emily van Egmond absent for the hosts due knee soreness.
Canberra were missing the influential South Africa playmaker Refiloe Jane, who begins her participation in the African Women Cup of Nations, while Scotland captain Rachel Corsie was also on international duty.
The two sides exchanged early chances, with Katie Stengel failing to get on the end of a teasing ball from Gema Simon before Denise O’Sullivan lashed wide after latching on to a loose ball.
Stengel registered the first shot on target just before the half-hour mark but failed to really trouble Sham Khamis.
However, Khamis had no chance in the 47th minute when Vine unleashed a stunning strike from the edge of the area with the outside of the boot, bending into far top corner.
The last kick of the first half…Cortnee Vine is on fire! 🔥🔥🔥#WLeague #NEWvCBR pic.twitter.com/CDHB2baKbV
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) November 17, 2018
The Jets continued to dominate the second half, with Stengel a constant threat as she fired several fierce efforts off target.
Newcastle came closest to doubling their advantage when Teigan Collister, making her full Westfield W-League debut, pulled the ball back for Jenna Kingsley to slot home from close range, only for Nikola Orgill to make a brave goal-saving block.
With the hosts making conservative changes, withdrawing both Vine and Collister, Canberra finally started to dominate in the final 10 minutes, but Britt Eckerstrom was able to deny debutant Paige Nielsen’s thunderous long-range effort before the impressive Ellie Carpenter headed over from close range.
