Newcastle Jets notched a convincing 9-1 win over the Canberra Rockets at McKellar Park on Wednesday night.
The Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets notched a convincing 9-1 win over the Canberra Rockets in their pre-season trial match at McKellar Park on Wednesday night.
The Jets opened the scoring inside the first five minutes courtesy of Ryan Griffiths. James Virgili did well to beat his man down the right flank before whipping in a dangerous cross. When the Rockets failed to clear their lines, Griffiths was on hand to knock the ball home from close range.
The Rockets equalised three minutes later when Alex Oloriegbe pounced on a wayward back pass from Craig Goodwin and beat Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy in a one on one situation.
Despite the setback, the Jets continued to control the mainstay of the game and were rewarded in the 24th minute when Griffiths completed his brace from the penalty spot after Jacob Pepper was brought down in the area.
The Jets extended their lead a short time later through James Brown. Brown was put in on goal by a subtle through ball from Griffiths but had his initial shot saved by Rockets goalkeeper Ben Klug. Fortunately for the Jets midfielder, the ball fell back into his path and he had no trouble stroking it into an empty net to give the Jets a 3-1 lead at the break.
Six minutes after half time, the Jets scored their fourth of the match. Craig Goodwin atoned for his earlier error when he unleashed a wicked shot from 25 metres out that swerved and dipped its way past the Rockets goalkeeper.
Half time substitute Michael Bridges was the next Jets player to get on the scoresheet. His first-time shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off a Rockets defender and looped over the head of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Rockets when Nick Hamilton was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.
Not long after, Bridges turned from scorer into provider when he set-up James Virgili for the Jets- sixth.
Griffiths completed his hat trick when he nodded home a Virgili cross from the left flank before Bridges made it 8-1 after converting the Jets- second penalty of the night.
Mitch Oxborrow put the icing on the cake for the Jets, adding their ninth goal in the dying minutes of the match.
Newcastle Jets 9 (Griffiths x3, Bridges x2, Brown, Goodwin, Virgili, Oxborrow)
Canberra Rockets 1 (Oloriegbe)
Canberra Rockets v Newcastle Jets, Challenge Match 2012 from Adam Grant on Vimeo.
Video courtesy of missingbitsproductions.com.au
