The Newcastle Jets Westfield W-League side remain winless after a 3-1 loss to top of the table Central Coast Mariners tonight at Bluetongue Stadium.
The Newcastle Jets Westfield W-League side remain winless after a 3-1 loss to top of the table Central Coast Mariners tonight at Bluetongue Stadium.
The Mariners secured the three points courtesy of the boots of Michelle Heyman, Kendall Fletcher and Lydia Vandenbergh. While for the Jets it was young star Tara Andrews who was the lone scorer for the luckless Newcastle side.
American import Lydia Vandenbergh had the chance to open the scoring in the 19th minute with her opportunistic free kick from the edge of the penalty area dropping late and rebounding off the near post. Unfortunately for the home side the ball fell safely for the Jet-s defence who were able to defuse the situation.
Drama erupted in the 24th minute when Newcastle-s Amber Neilson was shown a direct red card for dissent from the pocket of referee Peta McCallum. The loss of Neilson, one of the Jets only remaining senior players for next week-s final game of the season, is a big hurdle for Coach Wayne O’Sullivan to overcome, with the Jet’s to face last year-s Grand Final winners Brisbane next Saturday at home at Wanderers Oval.
With the Jets down to ten players it was only a matter of time before the Mariners found a way through their defence. A perfect through ball by Renee Rollason hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity allowing Michelle Heyman to skip past her marker and volley the ball into an unguarded near post.
It was a classy finish typical of the league-s leading markswoman and her eleventh of the campaign.
The Mariners joy was short lived with a mistake deep in their half allowing Tara Andrews to pounce on a loose ball and slot the ball low and to the left of Mariners ‘keeper Jillian Loyden. The goal was Andrews second for the Jets in what has been a disrupted season due to the youngsters National duties but her value to the side this season and certainly in years to come is without question.
The intensity of the match lifted notably in the second half with the home side attacking with purpose, completing their passes and tackling with controlled aggression. In the process they also created a number of scoring chances.
The Mariners regained the lead in the 71st minute when American Kendall Fletcher.
Fletcher-s corner curled and dipped perfectly into the top corner with Jets keeper Dewhurst getting a touch but to no avail.
Jenna Kingsley was able to evade three tiring defenders with an incisive run in the 74th minute. The beneficiary of her perfectly weighted cross was American Lydia Vandenbergh who was able to flick it into an empty net sealing the points for the home side.
The Jets final hope of gaining some respect from the season will be a ‘win at all costs’ clash next Saturday December 5th at Wanderers Oval against Brisbane Roar but clearly the experience of Neilson will be sorely missed as she watches from the sidelines.
Match Details:
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Jillian LOYDEN (GK) 2. Caitlin COOPER 3. Lyndsay GLOHE 4. Rachael DOYLE 9. Renee ROLLASON (7. Teresa POLIAS 90- )10. Kendall FLETCHER 11. Michelle HEYMAN (5. Jessica SEAMAN 87-) 12. Samantha SPACKMAN 14. Ashleigh CONNOR (13. Trudy CAMILLERI 70-) 15. Elizabeth O-REILLY 16. Jenna KINGSLEY 17. Britt SIMMONS 19. Lydia VANDENBERGH
Unused Subs 20. Rachel COOPER (GK)
Yellow Cards Cooper 79-
Red Cards Nil
Goals Heyman 36-, Fletcher 71-, Vandenbergh 74-
Newcastle Jets: 20. Emma-Kate DEWHURST (GK), 3. Pelay INGLES, 5. Stacey DAY (18. Leia SMITH 52-) , 6. Amber NEILSON, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Bronte BATES (9. Kate HENSMAN 63-), 10. Hayley CRAWFORD (c), 11. Carlie IKONOMOU, 15. Renee CARTWRIGHT (13. Caitlin JARVIE 80-), 16. Kirstyn PEARCE, 19. Tara ANDREWS.
Unused Subs 1. Alison LOGUE (GK).
Yellow Cards Bates 39-, Iknonmou 79-
Red Cards Neilson 24-
Goals Andrews 44-
Referee Peta MCCALLUM
