Newcastle Jets have got their W-League campaign back on track with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Adelaide United.
Newcastle Jets have got their Westfield W-League campaign back on track with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Adelaide United in an entertaining Round 5 match at Wanderers Oval, Newcastle.
The Jets led 2-0 at half-time and added another two in the second half in a strong display but it was Newcastle’s American imports Angela Salem and Tori Huster who starred for the Jets scoring a goal each and controlling the play in the midfield.
The win lifts the Jets off the bottom of the table onto four points and just one win out of the top four while Adelaide now find themselves propping up the W-League ladder.
The Jets started the game the better and opened the scoring in just the eighth minute of the match when Tara Andrews latched onto a through ball into the box and squeezed her shot past Adelaide goalkeeper Kristi Harvey for a 1-0 lead.
Andrews went close to doubling Newcastle’s lead in 15th minute when she stabbed a shot from 10 metres out but she sent it narrowly wide of the near post.
The Jets were in total control of the match and Salem was allowed too much room in the middle of the park before unleashing a long-range effort in the 23rd minute that just sailed wide of the target.
Newcastle scored their second goal after a period of sustained pressure resulted in a penalty in the 39th minute when Adelaide defender Alex Natoli brought down Tiffany Boshers in the box. Salem calmly slotted from the spot to make it 2-0.
The home side continued to probe with Salem creating half chances on the edge of the penalty area but Adelaide held out until half-time.
The visitors came out with more determination in the second half and mounted a couple of raids early but they were dealt with by the Jets’ back four.
Newcastle wrestled back control of the match with a third goal in the 51st minute when Huster put substitute Kate Hensman through on goal.
Harvey blocked the shot but Andrews pounced on the loose ball and fired it back towards goal where Hensman got a touch to deflect it into the back of the net.
The Jets got their fourth in the 66th minute when Gema Simon got in behind the defence down the left wing before looping a cross to the back post where Huster sent a powerful first-time volley into the roof of the net.
Adelaide were unlucky not to claw a goal back when they hit the woodwork twice in the space of five minutes.
Substitute Georgia Macri, courtesy of some great play down the right wing by Rachel Quigley, got off a shot which beat Jets goalkeeper Eliza Campbell but smacked off the near post.
Shortly after, Marijana Racic worked a good one-two for Macri to chip a shot over Campbell but it came off the crossbar.
Down the other end, Huster had two great chances to add to her total but Harvey pulled off two brave saves to deny the American and the Jets had to be content with four goals.
Newcastle Jets 4 (Tara Andrews 8, Angela Salem 39p, Kate Hensman 51, Tori Huster 66)
Adelaide United 0
At Wanderers Oval, Newcastle
Newcastle Jets Eliza Campbell (GK), 2. Hannah Brewer, 3 Hayley Crawford (capt), 4. Gemma Pearce, 5. Tori Huster, 6. Angela Salem, 7. Gema Simon , 9. Tara Andrews (13. Bronte Bates 63′), 12, Tiffany Boshers, (18. Michaela Hatzirodos 69′), 20.15. Alisha Foote (11. Kate Hensman 46′) 16. Stacey Day.
Adelaide United
1. Kristi Harvey (GK), 3. Alex Natoli (2. Ruth Wallace 41′) 5. Abby Erceg (capt), 7. Rachel Quigley, 8. Sarah McLaughlin, 9. Marijana Rajcic, 11. Grace Henry (18. Georgia Macri 53′) 13. Ann Mayo, 14. Lorena Maggio (17. Laura Johns 53′) 16. Jessica Waterhouse, 19. Holly Patterson.
