The Newcastle Jets continued their strong start to the Westfield W-League season, with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home against perennial W-League contenders Sydney FC.
First-half goals from Nikola Orgill and Arin Gilliland were the difference in the end as the Jets soared to the top of the ladder.
The match couldn’t have started any better for the home side as Nikola Orgill finished off the simplest of headers in just the second minute.
Lisa De Vanna was dangerous early with some enterprising play that created a couple of quality opportunities for the visitors. In particular, creating space for Young Matilda, Remy Siemsen who hit the upright with a cracking shot from the top of the 18-yard box.
It would be one of only a few chances for the visitors during the opening stanza as the Jets dominated possession and territory. However, both Princess Ibini and Amy Harrison had their opportunities, only to be thwarted by Jets’ custodian Britt Eckerstrom.
Another headed chance would extend the home side’s lead, as Arin Gilliland finished off a pin-point corner from Tori Huster to take the score to 2 – 0.
The Jets’ attacking livewire, Jenna Kingsley went close to making it a 3 – 0 lead after being brilliantly released by Orgill, only to be denied by a great save from Sham Khamis.
At the back, Cassidy Davis, in her 50th appearance for the club was a constant menace for Sydney’s attackers and was ably supported by Tash Prior.
It was a more composed Sky Blue outfit that returned in the second half, and while they were stronger on the ball, they still struggled to break the Jets’ defence.
Gilliland almost made it a brace midway thought the second half, as she snuck past the Sydney defence, only to take one touch too many and be stopped by a brave dive from Khamis.
Cortnee Vine marked her return from national duty with a strong performance from the bench, joining the play at the beginning of the second half.
The Young Matilda was well positioned when a loose ball fell her way, firing a rocket toward the top right corner, which was only stopped by some great glove work from Khamis.
Former Jet, Chloe Logarzo, was quiet in her return to McDonald Jones Stadium but almost found the scoresheet thanks to a wonderful ball from Lisa De Vanna, who was doing everything to get the visitors back into the contest.
For the Jets, Arin Gilliland was superb as the home side closed in on three crucial points, running herself ragged in the middle of the park.
Similarly, the Jets backline of Hannah Brewer, Cass Davis and Tash Prior were rock-solid, recording a first clean sheet of the campaign, as the Jets made it two wins from two matches.
The moments:
1′ | 0 – 0 | The rain has held off for kick-off and we are underway in round two of the @WLeague! #NEWvSYD
2′ | 1 – 0 | GOAL!!!!! Orgill!! #NEWvSYD
3′ | 1 – 0 | Lovely ball floated to the back post and Orgill powers home with a clinical header! #NEWvSYD
9′ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE…for the Sky Blues. Amy Harrison can’t find the target from the top of the D. Had plenty of time to shape up and shoot!
12′ | 1 – 0 | Back from the Young Matildas and almost back on the scoresheet for Remy Siemsen! She fires her shot into the post! #NEWvSYD
13′ | 1 – 0 | Cass Davis in her 50th appearance with a crunching tackle on De Vanna ? #NEWvSYD
26′ | 1 – 0 | KINGSLEY!!! Just wide… Great save from Khamis in the Sky Blues goal! #NEWvSYD
29′ | 2 – 0 | GOAL JETS!!! #NEWvSYD
29′ | 2 – 0 | Arin Gilliland with a powerful header following a corner! #NEWvSYD
34′ | 2 – 0 | Davis is at it again! Her next victim comes in the form of Chloe Logarzo! She dispossess her just in time #NEWvSYD
36′ | 2 – 0 | Ibini with the strike and Eckerstrom with a super save! ? #NEWvSYD
40′ | 2 – 0 | Jets controlling things here at the moment. #NEWvSYD
HT – The sides head to the sheds @MJStadium with the Jets up by two! Orgill and Gilliland with the goals. #NEWvSYD
48′ | 2 – 0 | @SydneyFC swing in a few early crosses to start the half, but Eckerstrom is up to the task! #NEWvSYD
52′ | 2 – 0 | Tash Prior a rock at the back again for our Jets ? #NEWvSYD
57′ | 2 – 0 | Audacious from Gilliland. She tries her luck from near halfway and just pushes it over the bar! #NEWvSYD
63′ | 2 – 0 | STENGEL FIRES!! Khamis superb diving save to her right. #NEWvSYD
64′ | 2 – 0 | NOW VINE TRIES HER LUCK! From edge of the box, the Young Matilda almost picks out the top corner Khamis saves the day #NEWvSYD
78′ | 2 – 0 | Gilliland breaks down the right, but just can’t get on her shot on target from an acute angle #NEWvSYD
86′ | 2 – 0 | Thanks to the 2,303 fans who made their way to a wet @MJStadium stadium this afternoon!
FULL-TIME | 2 – 0 | A super performance again at home again from our girls! #NEWvSYD
Ground: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Crowd: 2,303
Referee: Kelly Jones
Newcastle Jets: 2.Hannah BREWER, 3.Natasha PRIOR, 5.Arin GILLILAND, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 9.Katie STENGEL, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 16.Nikola ORGILL (8.Sophie NENADOVIC 61’) 17.Jenna KINGSLEY, 19.Ash BRODIGAN (11.Cortnee VINE 46’) 23. Tori HUSTER (21.Pana PETRATOS 70’) 28.Britt ECKERSTROM (gk)

Subs Not Used: 20.Claire COEHLO (gk)
Yellow Cards: Hannah BREWER (52’)
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: Nikola ORGILL (2’), Arin GILLILAND (29’)
Sydney FC: 1.Sham KHAMIS (gk), 2.Teresa POLIAS (c) (10.Kylie LEDBROOK 70’) 3.Remy SIEMSEN (19.Leena KHAMIS 79’) 4.Elizabeth RALSTON, 6.Chloe LOGARZO, 8.Amy HARRISON, 11.Lisa DE VANNA (13.Georgia YEOMAN-DALE 70’) 12.Teigen ALLEN, 15.Caitlin COOPER, 16.Emily SONNETT, 20.Princess IBINI,
Subs Not Used: 30.Sheridan RAINEY (gk)
Yellow Cards: Teigen ALLEN (88’)
Red Cards: N/A
Goals:
