The Westfield W-League Jets went down 3-1 to Canberra United United in hot conditions at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
With Jets skipper Hayley Crawford suspended and watching from the crowd this afternoon, her team had everything to prove against their Captain-s former club which knocked them out of contention for the Grand Final during last year-s Semi Final in Newcastle.
Canberra-s Chinese Taipei import, Shu O Tseng troubled the Jets from kickoff with two consecutive attempts, the first skimming past the far post and the second well caught by Jets keeper Alison Logue.
Continuing the onslaught of goal attempts, Canberra found the back of the net with a successful set piece which was placed in the goal by Cian Maciejewski following a strong free kick cross by Ellyse Perry.
The Jets- first quality goal attempt came in the 13th minute by Renee Cartwright who turned the ball around Canberra-s defence only to fall short with her strike on goal which rolled past the post.
Just minutes later the Jets were handed a free kick, taken by acting captain, Amber Neilson, who sent the ball flying over the heads of Canberra-s defence into the centre top of the goal, only to have her shot caught by keeper Lydia Williams.
After the first half drinks break, the Jets were looking refreshed as Caitlin Jarvie stole the ball from her opposition-s feet to break away towards the goal but was unable to hand Newcastle the equaliser.
Moments after Jarvie-s efforts, Tara Andrews squared the ball from one metre out, with Williams again halting the Jets from scoring.
A scuffle in Newcastle-s goalmouth left Logue on the ground, with Canberra looking dangerous to put one away just prior to a double header attempt by Canberra which was sent right of the goal and the score remained at 1-0.
Newcastle-s Madeline Searl was down injured with just minutes on the clock before halftime and replaced by Carlie Ikonomou who troubled Canberra with a shot on goal as soon as she entered the field of play.
During first half injury time, Jarvie shimmied through Canberra-s defence to cross the ball to Cartwright, though the Jets were unable to find a direct shot.
The first shot of the second half came from Neilson with a power kick from outside the box, which sailed directly toward the goal, only to deflect off the crossbar.
The Jets were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute after Andrews was brought down inside the box, with teammate Neilson successfully converting the opportunity to equalise the score.
Soon after their first goal of the match, Leia Smith took a runaway ball up the wing, crossing to Ikonomou whose attempt on goal was saved by Williams.
Neilson continued to display her quality free kicks, chipping the ball to a waiting Cartwright in front of goals, but the pair-s efforts went unrewarded.
Canberra-s Shu O Tseng found luck in the 74th minute after Newcastle-s defence unsuccessfully cleared the ball, positioning herself for a direct shot on goal which Logue was unable to stop as it found the back of the net.
Just three minutes later, Canberra-s 15 year old Kahlia Hogg chipped a ball from well outside the box, miraculously scoring off a power shot to put her side in the lead three goals to one.
As the game came down to the wire, both sides were starting to show their aggression, with Newcastle-s Pelay Ingles awarded a yellow card as the result of a disagreement with a Canberra player.
Gema Simon had one of the final chances of the game, with a powerful long shot across the field which was caught by Williams.
In the closing minutes of injury time, Logue saved Canberra-s final attempt to find the back of the net, with the score remaining at 3-1 when the fulltime whistle blew.
The difficult playing conditions and searing heat affected both sides performance today-s game, according to Jets Head Coach, Wayne O-Sullivan.
“I think the heat was a factor for both teams and I think it affected both teams, but that aside I thought it was an even game but a couple of silly mistakes cost us the game,” he said.
Canberra-s victory over the Jets now puts the side into the top 4, having overtaken Melbourne Victory.
Newcastle will now travel to the Central Coast to face the Mariners in Round 9 of the Westfield W-League.
Match Details:
Newcastle Jets Women 1 (Neilson 56-)
Canberra United Women 3 (Maciejewski 10-, O Tseng 74-, Hogg 77-)
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
Referee: Peta MCCALLUM
Newcastle Jets Women line-up: 1. Alison LOGUE (gk), 3. Pelay INGLES, 6. Amber NEILSON (c), 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Bronte BATES, 13. Caitlin JARVIE (9. Kate HENSMAN 69-), 15. Renee CARTWRIGHT, 16. Kirstyn PEARCE, 17. Madeline SEARL (11. Carlie IKONOMOU 39-), 18. Leia SMITH, 19. Tara ANDREWS (12. Emma STEWART 79-)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
Yellow Cards: Pelay Ingles.
Red Cards: Nil
Canberra United Women line-up: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 3. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 7. Ellie BRUSH (c), 8. Emily VAN EGMOND (12. Snez VELJANOVSKA 85-), 10. Shu O TSENG, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Nicole SYKES (2. Rebecca KITING 61-), 16. Ellyse PERRY, 19. Jennifer BISSET (9. Grace GILL 53-)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Jocelyn MARA (gk)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
