by Ben Gilby (1/3/25)
Above: Newcastle Jets’ Sophie Hoban shows her joy after scoring against Perth Glory today. Photo: A-Leagues.
Two goals in the opening three minutes from Sophie Hoban powered Newcastle Jets to their first win in 10 A-League Women matches today.
Hoban’s strikes earned the Jets only their third win of the season, and first since a 2-1 win at Sydney FC on 14th December to close the gap between her team and the Glory to just a single point in the battle between the four sides at the bottom of the ladder.
Whilst Perth had the personal landmark of hometown hero Ella Lincoln’s first ever professional goal in only her third A-League Women appearance, this was an exceptionally frustrating outcome for the Glory. Stephen Peters’ side dominated the possession and the passing accuracy stats. They also forced the hosts into having to make almost twice as many defensive clearances.
Once more, the Western Australian side need to find a way to improve their ratio of chances to goals scored as well as ending their away day blues rapidly to avoid being dragged into wooden spoon contention. But, on the positive side of the ledger, their response to going 2-0 down so early was encouraging.
Glory were impacted by injuries again, with keeper Casey Dumont still out on top of the regular long term absentees. It meant Miranda Templeman taking her place in goal, a defensive berth for Tijan McKenna and a debut for midweek injury replacement signing Hollie Palmer.
The Jets were out of the blocks rapidly. Just over 90 seconds into the game, Libby Copus-Brown played a corner on the right back to Hoban who was positioned on the right angle of the penalty area on that flank. The midfielder took a touch and fired in what looked to be a cross originally that curled high into the top left-hand corner.
Just a minute later, Hoban took up possession centrally inside her own half and had acres of space to drive into. The Glory defenders backed off as she arrived outside the area and Hogan laid a pass off for Lauren Allan outside her on the right wing.
Allan’s low cross into the box was met by Templeman who couldn’t hold on which allowed Hoban two bites of the cherry – the first was blocked by Onyi Zogg on the line, only for the rebound to fall perfectly for Hogan to fire home from close range.
It could have got even better for both the Jets and Hoban 20 minutes in. The midfielder ran at pace once more centrally towards the area before playing a one-two with Josie Allan on the left – a move which ended with Hoban curling a shot just over the top.
The half-time chat and changes saw Perth respond well to adversity. Industrious young striker Ella Lincoln was introduced for Kelli Brown. Lincoln, who was the NPLW WA’s top goalscorer in 2024, is an attacker who has the enviable dual ability of pace and physicality to beat defenders and deadly penalty box predatory skill. These are exactly the sort of qualities that will thrive against the challenge posed by Newcastle – and so it proved with 56 on the clock.
Izzy Foletta received the ball out on the right, and played a low ball into the mix, just outside of the six-yard box. A typical Lincoln finish that she demonstrated time and time again in the NPLW swept the ball home to give the Glory hope.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, Sarah O’Donoghue released Megan Wynne on the right. The Welsh international used excellent strength to hold off and win the tussle with Copus-Brown and cut in towards the edge of the area, right of centre. However, the Jets midfielder bit back and brought Wynne down with a tug of the shirt.
Referee Rebecca Durcau showed Copus-Brown a red card, and awarded the Glory a free-kick in a dangerous position. O’Donoghue stepped up and lifted her shot just millimetres over the top.
Perth continued to press forward in search of the equaliser. With 10 minutes remaining, McKenna used her footwork to win a battle on the left to square a pass for Palmer to curl a shot from outside the area that only just went the wrong side of the post.
In the dying stages, there were chances at both ends. First, for the visitors, O’Donoghue was denied in a one-on-one battle with Jets keeper Danielle Krzyzaniak. Then, Cass Davis was denied from close range with a diving save from Templeman.
The Jets now go on to face a battle of the bottom two with Sydney FC next weekend at home. Perth need to continue their recent strong home form that sees them unbeaten in their last three at the Sam Kerr Football Centre when Western United come calling.
Teams: NEWCASTLE JETS (4-1-4-1): Krzyzaniak, Cicco, Wilson, Davis, Baumann, Dundas, L. Allan, Hoban, Copus-Brown, J. Allan, Gallagher. Substitutes: Adams, Breier, Collins, Hammond, Robertson.
Scorers: Hoban 2′, 3′.
PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Templeman, Johnston, Chinnama, Zogg, McKenna, Tathem, Dalton, Palmer, O’Donoghue, Brown, Wynne. Substitutes: Skinner, Foletta, Lincoln, Roberts, Wainwright.
Scorer: Lincoln 56′.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau.
Attendance: 1,048.
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