Newcastle Jets 4–1 Western Sydney Wanderers
By Kieran Yap.
At the inconspicuously named Number Two Sportsground in Newcastle, the Jets hosted the Wanderers in search of their first win of the season and revenge for a 2-1 loss a few weeks prior.
What transpired was an eventful, entertaining, fast paced and sometimes ill-tempered match that had everything a neutral fan could want.
Newcastle started with an unchanged line-up, lead from the front by the in-form Tara Andrews and an midfield anchored by Alisha Bass and Cass Davis in support of Rhianna Poccicina, Sunny Franco and Lauren Allen.
The Wanderers’ Rosie Galea scored a brace in the previous encounter and they would have been hopeful of another win in what has been a difficult start to the season.
The game was fast paced from the start, both teams looked to attack and make the most of their wingers, Georgia Yeoman-Dale looked dangerous early, testing out the Jets fullback Tessa Tamplin and getting in the first cross of the afternoon but it was the Jets who struck first.
Just seven minutes in, Rhianna Pollicina received the ball in space and had the time and skill to slide a pass beyond the Wanderers defenders and into the path of the fleet-footed Lauren Allen. The Jets winger took what looked to be a heavy first touch but had enough pace to be in control, her second touch was a flick of the right boot to put the ball beyond Courtney Newbon to score.
Western Sydney hit back almost immediately, Yeoman-Dale picked up a loose ball just inside half way and a burst of acceleration took her into space on the left wing, she cut inside and unleashed a strike in the net from the edge of the box that left Claire Coelho with no chance.
The game momentarily became tense but no less entertaining, a tussle between Galea and Hannah Brewer resulted in both players being yellow carded and Newcastle sent wave after waves of attack at the Wanderers. If not for Newbon saving spectacularly from an Andrews free kick they would have conceded again.
Sunny Franco has been in stellar form and demanded attention, but she was lucky that her reaction to Nikola Orgill’s shove went unpinished. She kicked out at the defender fortunately for both players the missed but made her frustrations known by throwing the ball at the back of Orgill’s head as she walked away. She was surprisingly not carded but the Jets had a free kick in a dangerous area.
The ball was floated into the box by Gemma Simon, Newbon was forced to come for it but collided with Orgill and Andrews managed to flick it on, Lauren Allen jumped highest and headed into the net for her second goal. Newcastle were 2-1 up. In the chaos Orgill was collected by her ‘keeper and momentarily went off to test for possible concussion.
Newcastle had the momentum, another clever Pollicina pass was touched just wide by Sunny Franco who had snuck behind the defense with Allen leaving Newbon stranded and relieved to see it miss.
By half time The Jets were 3-1 up, another high ball into the area, this time from Tessa Tamplin should have been easily collected by Newbon but it was uncharacteristically fumbled, the ball dropped almost directly onto the boot of Tara Andrews and the number nine needed no second invitation to score for the fourth game in a row.
The second half was more of the same from a confident and dominant Jets team. Tara Andrews was putting on a clinic of forward play, she slipped in a brilliant pass for Allen again but under pressure the shot bobbled wide.
In the 53rd minute Gemma Simon got on the score sheet, the Jets captain drifted forward and got onto the end of a Hannah Brewer long pass, she rounded the ‘keeper and tapped in for a rare goal.
Andrews remained the most dangerous player until she was substituted for a well earned rest, she again fed the ball into the path of Allen who took it past Newbon but the ball ran out and she was denied a third goal.
The score remained at 4-1 until the final whistle, Newcastle have scored in every game but this was their first win of the season. They had been quiet in a pre-season absent of big news or major signings but have been impressive in 2021. Any worries about potential off field turmoil have not affected Ash Wilson’s well-balanced and entertaining team.
They might not be the team to beat just yet but they are a team to watch, their home ground remains named Number Two Sportsground for the time being but if her form continues they might want to rename it The Tara Andrews Stage.
Teams: NEWCASTLE JETS: Coelho, Tamplin, Simon, King, Brewer, Davis, Franco, Pollicina, Bass, Allan, Andrews. Substitutes: Simonsen (GK), Jaber, Petratos, Harding, House.
Scorers: Allan 8, 33. Andrews 44. Simon 53.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: Newbon, Russell, Nevin, Chauvet, Orgill, Price, Copus-Brown, Cooper, Khamis, Yeoman-Dale, Galea. Substitutes: Willacy (GK), Gomez, Collister, Hunter, Henry.
Scorer: Yeoman-Dale 11.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
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