A Morten Nordstrand double sandwiched between strikes by Andrew Nabbout and Kristian Brymora helped Newcastle Jets comfortably account for a youthful Melbourne City side in Ballarat on Sunday.
Just as the Jets did last Sunday against Edgeworth FC, Newcastle managed to record a 4-0 scoreline to ensure that their good goalscoring record this pre-season was enhanced.
Indeed, the Jets have won five from their last five pre-season matches, and will seek to make it six from six when the Club hosts Western Sydney Wanderers at Cessnock next Saturday.
After a slow start to the match the Jets began to assert their dominance on the fixture 16 minutes in when Andrew Hoole dribbled into the box and squared the ball to Nabbout who finished powerfully.
The Jets spurned further chances to extend their lead in the 19th, 24th, 32nd and 39th minutes before finally doubling their advantage with just a minute left on the clock in the first half. Goalscorer Nabbout turned provider, laying on a perfect pass for the experienced Nordstrand who didn’t miss.
After half-time Dean Bouzanis denied Hoole, before former Jet Braedyn Crowley – now with City – struck the side netting. Melbourne’s Paulo Retre also sent a snap shot just wide of Jack Duncan’s goal in 59th minute.
But it was Clayton Zane’s charges that would add to the scoreboard twice during in an eight-minute period. In the 71st minute Nordstrand finished a fluid move which started in the backline to put the Jets 3-0 up, before Wayne Brown burst forward in the 79th minute and placed a perfect pass to substitute Brymora who slid the ball into an empty net.
“I am getting fitter every day,” Nordstrand said. “Getting 90 minutes again today was good for me. I am trying to get to know the other players in the front third, how they want to play me and how I can play them. I think we are progressing as a team [and] creating many chances every game, so it is getting better.”
“I think I will be 100 per cent when we have the first [Hyundai] A-League game. We have one game next week and then I will be completely ready.”
“Today we hoped for a better opponent but they came with the youth team so that was a little bit disappointing. But I really hope next week that we can get a decent opponent. If they [Western Sydney Wanderers] play their best team it will be a very tough game for us, we know they are very strong and they went to the final last season so they have obviously a very strong team, so we look forward to that game,” he said.
Melbourne City 0
Newcastle Jets 4 (Nabbout 16’, Nordstrand 44’, 71’, Brymora 79’)
Morshead Park, Ballarat, Victoria
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
Newcastle Jets: 2. Daniel Mullen, 3. Jason Hoffman, 4. Nigel Boogaard (C), 6. Steven Ugarkovic, 7. Andrew Hoole, 10. Wayne Brown, 15. Andrew Nabbout, 16. Nicholas Cowburn, 19. Morten Nordstrand, 20. Jack Duncan (Gk), 23. Devante Clut
Substitutes: 1. Ben Kennedy (Gk), 5. Ben Kantarovski, 8. Mateo Poljak, 22. Lachlan Jackson, 24. Kristian Brymora
Melbourne City: 1. Dean Bouzanis (Gk), 2. Manny Muscat, 3. Bradley Clarke, 5. Christian Cavallo, 6. Daniel Arzani, 7. Gerrie Sylaidos, 8. Denis Genreau, 9. Braedyn Crowley, 10. Anthony Caceres, 12. Ruon Tongyik, 18. Paulo Retre (C)
Substitutes: 4. Leo Athanasiou, 15. Austin Wong, 36. Marc Tokic, 27. Connor Metcalfe, 39. Ali Eyigun, 40. James Delianov (Gk)
