Newcastle Jets secured their first victory of the Westfield W-League 2020/21 season in style on Saturday, hammering Western Sydney Wanderers FC 4-1 at No.2 Sportsground.
A brace to speedy winger Lauren Allan complemented by Tara Andrews’ fourth goal in as many games had the Jets in command at the half-time break, before skipper Gema Simon’s well-taken goal eight minutes after the interval rounded out the damage for Ash Wilson’s side.
In front of 657 appreciative supporters at No.2, the Jets started on the front foot and took the lead in just the eighth minute of the match when Allan squeezed a shot on the angle beyond Wanderers custodian Courtney Newbon.
However, Newcastle’s lead didn’t last long, as former Jet Georgia Yeoman-Dale restored parity to the contest with a fine strike from just outside the area in the 11th minute of play.
Both sides went close to taking the lead soon after, with experienced Wanderers forward Leena Khamis sending a strike just wide of Claire Coelho’s goal in the 22nd minute, before Andrews saw her free kick rattle the woodwork six minutes later.
Just after the half hour mark, the Jets made the score 2-1 when the determined Allan scored her second. Following a Simon free kick that was helped on by Andrews, Allan swooped at the back post to nod the ball into an empty net.
Moments before the half time break Newcastle struck again. Tessa Tamplin’s ball into the box was dropped by Newbon, and showing the instincts of a great striker, Andrews swiftly pounced to calmly poke the ball home and extend Newcastle’s advantage.
Just two minutes into the second half a flowing move presented Allan, who worked tirelessly throughout, with a chance to score a hat trick. Unfortunately for Allan and the Jets, her low shot was centimetres the wrong side of Newbon’s right post.
Jets skipper Simon would make no mistake five minutes later. As Hannah Brewer lobbed a dangerous ball forward, Simon’s well-timed run and touch left the Wanderers defence static and Newbon stranded, and resulted in a simple finish for Simon to make the score 4-1.
Allan had a further chance to score a hat trick in the 58th minute, however her touch was just too heavy when played in by fellow attacker Andrews.
A raft of substitutions from both sides resulted in the flow of the game, and the amount of chances created, slowing as the second half wore on, however Jets substitute Pana Petratos did send a respectable effort wide of the mark just a few minutes before referee Casey Reibelt’s final whistle.
The Jets will play their next Westfield W-League match away to Sydney FC at Cromer Park on the Northern Beaches on Sunday, 31 January 2021. Kick-off is at 6:05pm.
Newcastle Jets FC 4 (Allan 8’, 32’, Andrews 45’, Simon 53’)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 1 (Yeoman-Dale 11’)
Venue: No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle
Attendance: 657
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Newcastle Jets FC: 20. Claire COELHO (Gk), 2. Hannah BREWER, 5. Alisha BASS, 6. Cassidy DAVIS, 7. Gema SIMON (C) (14. Tiana JABER 83’), 9. Tara ANDREWS (15. Sophie HARDING 77’), 11. Rhianna POLLICINA (10. Pana PETRATOS 77’), 12. Tessa TAMPLIN, 13. Lauren ALLAN, 16. Sunny FRANCO (3’ Jemma HOUSE 60’), 18. Taren KING
Substitutes not used: 30. Nicole SIMONSEN (Gk)
Yellow cards: Brewer
Red cards: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 20. Courtney NEWBON (Gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER (C), 3. Nikola ORGILL, 4. Margaux CHAUVET, 5. Courtney NEVIN, 6. Olivia PRICE (16. Isabel GOMEZ 62’), 10. Elizabeth COPUS-BROWN, 12. Julie-Ann RUSSELL (18. Sarah HUNTER 76’), 13. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE (9. Bryleeh HENRY 76’), 15. Rosaria GALEA (25. Teigan COLLISTER 60’), 19. Leena KHAMIS
Substitutes not used: 1. Sarah WILLACY (Gk)
Yellow cards: Galea, Copus-Brown
Red cards: Nil
