Fresh from some goalkeeping heroics, a first clean sheet of the season, and the league’s Save of the Week, Glen Moss has every right to be pleased with his side’s first win of the season.
Clutch saves to deny first Connor Pain, and then Besart Berisha just a minute later, were crucial in ensuring Newcastle left Geelong with what many fancied unlikely – three points.
It was the stop to deny Berisha which earned the gloveman the Save of the Week gong, smartly reacting to a bullet header from the Kosovan from a set-piece to keep Newcastle in the lead.
REPORT: Jets win first of the season
Speaking after the game to Fox Sports’ Mark Bosnich, Moss was unable to recall the save but acknowledged the stop when chatting with media at Wednesday morning’s press conference.
“Thank you, I think! Crazy is probably not what the coaches would say, but it was one of those games where they [Western United] were on a roll and we were hanging on and protecting our lead,” Moss said.
“We know we have to win ugly at the moment, and that’s pretty much what we did… it was good to get the win, even if it was a little ugly and hopefully we can kick on from here.
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“Lachy Jackson, and Nikolai [Topor-Stanley] in front of me… Lachy has just come in and has probably been man of the match the last two games, and has shown the depth we have there.”
Saturday night’s victory was the Jets first of the season, and their first in a competitive outing since the win over Edgeworth in the FFA Cup Round of 16.
It had been a long time coming, with positive performances in games against Central Coast, Adelaide, and Perth but just two points to show for it.
While the win was satisfying, the way in which the boys went about it was another pleasing aspect of the match for the custodian, Moss.
“Not so much a relief, it was a little bit frustrating in the first couple of games where we thought we might have got something out of, so I guess it was just a sign of us heading in the right direction,” Moss said.
“If we defend the way we did against Western United, then we’ll do well this season.
“It’s pleasing to have a defensive victory like that… we like to play counter-attacking football, and when we do win the ball, break in numbers and catch them unawares.”
Rather than getting straight back into things following a first win of the season, Newcastle had Monday and Tuesday off thanks to a Round 7 bye.
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It’s the second in seven weeks for Newcastle, dealt a pair of byes to begin the season and denied the chance to build immediate momentum off the back of a big win.
However, with a few injuries in the squad, it’s an opportunity to rest up for another week – something Moss said he doesn’t mind at all.
“For old guys like myself it is, I’ll take a break wherever I can get it,” Moss laughed.
“It’s much better going into a bye with a good win, rather than saying the result didn’t go our way and trying to shake it off.
“The mood will be pretty good I think, over the next two weeks.”
