Newcastle Jets defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 at Cessnock Sportground on Saturday.
THE SUMMARY
Goals to Andrew Hoole and Andrew Nabbout helped Newcastle Jets to their sixth win in as many pre-season games against Western Sydney Wanderers in Cessnock on Saturday.
Wanderers created one of their only opportunities in the match after three minutes but a confident Jack Duncan sprung high to block the shot for Newcastle.
Hoole proved extremely valuable for the Jets throughout the game, creating some impressive chances and opening the scoring with a strike from range to give the Jets a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
Nabbout extended the advantage for the Jets in the 41st minute in a quality display of skill, creating a 1v1 with Wanderers keeper Jerrad Tyson before sliding the ball beyond the Western Sydney custodian and into the back of the net.
An incident inside the box from a Jets corner in the second half saw Jason Hoffman receive a straight red card in the 81st minute, leaving the Jets with ten men for the final ten minutes of the contest.
Western Sydney attempted to take advantage of their extra player but Jack Duncan kept his goal intact, ensuring the Jets won 2-0.
THE GOALS
1-0 – Andrew Hoole opened scoring for the Jets with an impressive shot from outside the area in the 22nd minute.
2-0 – Andrew Nabbout got himself in prime position, creating a 1v1 with Tyson in the 41st minute before smoothly sliding the ball past the Wanderers ‘keeper to extend the Jets’ lead.
THE OTHER KEY MOMENTS
3’ – Jets custodian Jack Duncan produced an excellent save to deny the Wanderers in the first chance of the game.
11’ – Steven Ugarkovic played a great pass to set Hoole up. Hoole did well to challenge the Wanderers defence and let a shot off but it was blocked by Tyson.
17’ – Hoole made another quality run, turning Wanderers defender Shannon Cole only to be brought down by Jacob Melling, who received the game’s first yellow card for the challenge.
24’ – Nick Cowburn let off a powerful shot in an attempt to add to the lead for the Jets but it flew over the bar.
44’ – Some classy passing inside the box gave Nabbout another opportunity but he sent his strike high of the goal.
53’ – Wayne Brown let off a fierce strike from range but sent it just wide of Tyson’s left post.
69’ – Jets substitute Devante Clut produced some great work inside the area and shot towards goal but it rebounded off the woodwork before bouncing out of play.
THE MAN OF THE MATCH
Andrew Hoole scored his seventh goal of the pre-season and managed to open some impressive opportunities for his team. Hoole has been fighting to improve since returning to his hometown this season, and is showing great signs leading into the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season which kicks off in just two week’s time.
THE POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Mark Jones’ first game as Head Coach was a successful one, however most importantly it was a chance to get a first-hand look at his squad.
“We want to play against full strength [Hyundai] A-League teams and see how we fair,” Jones said.
“I couldn’t tell you my best 11 at the moment – I haven’t been here for long enough. Everyone out there was competitive and we just want to look at people in different positions and see how they fair so we can come up with the best 11 for Round 1.”
Andrew Hoole also expressed his delight in the team’s progression throughout the pre-season.
“It was nice to get the win and I think the team played really well today. We’ve still got some work to do and some things to build on but it’s coming together nicely,” Hoole siad.
THE SCOREBOARD
Newcastle Jets 2 (Hoole 22’, Nabbout 41’)
Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Venue: Cessnock Sportsground
Referee: Katie Patterson
Attendance: 2,132
THE JETS
Newcastle Jets: 2. Daniel Mullen, 3. Jason Hoffman, 4. Nigel Boogaard (C), 6. Steven Ugarkovic, 7. Andrew Hoole, 9. Aleksandr Kokko (23. Devante Clut 46’), 10. Wayne Brown, 15. Andrew Nabbout (5. Ben Kantarovski 61’), 16. Nick Cowburn, 19. Morten Nordstrand, 20. Jack Duncan (GK)
Substitutes not used: 1. Ben Kennedy (GK), 12. Andy Brennan, 17. Radovan Pavicevic, 22. Lachlan Jackson, 24. Kristian Brymora
Yellow cards: Clut, Boogaard, Nordstrand
Red cards: Jason Hoffman
