It was a record-breaking afternoon in the nation’s capital on Sunday, as the Newcastle Jets cemented a position in the Westfield W-League’s top four in emphatic fashion with a 5 – 1 demolition of Canberra United at McKellar Park.
The win sees the Jets make their first finals appearance since the 2007/08 Westfield W-League, with a hat-trick to Katie Stengel and a brace to Emily van Egmond the highlights.
History was certainly against the visiting side, who hadn’t recorded a win over United since the inaugural season of the W-League – an unbeaten run which stretched 14 games.
The Jets certainly weren’t letting history faze them, with a blistering start that saw skipper, Emily van Egmond in the thick of things early as the Jets played long and pressed high to put Canberra on the back foot.
The Matilda’s midfielder would be the first on the scoresheet, the recipient of some exceptional service from Katie Stengel who fired in a low cross, allowing van Egmond the easiest of tap ins at the back post.
Canberra weren’t without their chances in the opening exchanges as Ellie Carpenter and Amy Sayers caused trouble through the midfield, but the defensive unit of Davis, Prior, Brewer and Nenadovic stood strong.
Katie Stengel would soon grab the first of her three goals, as she pounced on a ball in the area and fired a shot from a tough angle to beat Hayley Kopmeyer and double the Jets’ lead.
Just before the end of the first half, Ellie Carpenter made a dashing run down the right edge and produced a classy finish from close range to get the home side back into the game.
The second half started in the same vein as the first for the Jets, with a flurry of chances for Arin Gilliland in front of goal – with only the upright denying her on one occasion. Britt Eckerstrom was outstanding at the other end of the park, pulling off a couple of excellent stops to keep Canberra at bay.
As the half progressed and with the game in the balance, van Egmond stepped up and showed her class and experience as she netted a brace for the afternoon – with a low strike that took a piece of both posts before finding it’s way into goal.
Van Egmond and Arin Gilliland would combine to lay the next goal on for Katie Stengel, as an attacking free kick was pushed wide, with Gilliand tipping a header onto an unmarked Stengel in the area who made no mistake with the finish.
It would be a solo effort from Stengel that would complete her hat-trick, with a charging run down the left which saw her round a United defender and finish across the face of goal, beating an outstretched Kopmeyer and capping off a remarkable win.
The moments:
12′ | 1 – 0 | GOAL! Van Egmond! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
12′ | 1 – 0 | A charging run down the left of edge from Stengel was followed with a low pinpoint cross to the back post, allowing van Egmond the easiest of tap ins to take the lead #WLeague #CBRvNEW
20′ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Van Egmond takes a shot form long range, but it sails just wide. A busy start from the skipper! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
23′ | 2 – 0 | GOAL! Katie Stengel! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
23′ | 2 – 0 | Stengel pounces on a loose ball in the area and takes a shot from a tough angle to double our lead! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
42′ | 2 – 1 | Ellie Carpenter gets the home side on the scoresheet #WLeague #CBRvNEW
51′ | 2 – 1 | Britt Eckerstrom with a diving effort to cut off a charging Michelle Heyman – brave stuff that! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
53′ | 2 – 1 | Gilliland again! This time she takes the upright with a headed effort, after van Egmond put in a wonderful cross from out wide #WLeague #CBRvNEW
66′ | 3 – 1 | GOAL! Van Egmond has a double! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
66′ | 3 – 1 | A swooping run around the top of the area, van Egmond strikes low and gets some help from the woodwork on the way in! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
80′ | 4 – 1 | GOAL! Katie Stengel with a brace! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
80′ | 4 – 1 | Van Egmond hits Gilliland wide from the free kick, who tips it over to Stengel who clears Kopmeyer with a free header #WLeague #CBRvNEW
89′ | 5 – 1 | GOAL! A hat-trick for Stengel! #WLeague #CBRvNEW
89′ | 5 – 1 | Stengel finds herself in space down the right, beats a defender and fires a strike across the face of goal, beating a diving Kopmeyer into the bottom corner #WLeague #CBRvNEW
Ground: McKellar Park
Newcastle Jets: 2.Hannah BREWER, 3.Natasha PRIOR, 5.Arin GILLILAND, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 8.Sophie NENADOVIC, 9.Katie STENGEL, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 17.Jenna KINGSLEY, 18.Clare WHEELER, 23.Tori HUSTER, 28.Britt ECKERSTROM (gk)
Subs: 7.Gema SIMON, 11.Cortnee VINE, 12.Tara ANDREWS, 20.Claire COEHLO (gk)
Subs Not Used: 20.Claire COEHLO (gk)
Yellow cards:
Red cards:
Goals: 10.Emliy VAN EGMOND (12’, 66’), 9.Katie STENGEL (23’, 82’, 90’)
Canberra United: 1.Haley KOPMEYER (gk), 3.Clare HUNT, 4.Toni PRESSLEY, 10.Grace MAHER, 11.Elise THORSNES, 14.Ashleigh SYKES, 18.Taren KING, 20.Amy SAYER, 21.Ellie CARPENTER, 23.Michelle HEYMAN, 34.Laura BASSETT
Subs: 6.Caitlin MUNOZ, 7.Nickoletta FLANNERY, 8.Liana DANASKOS, 36,Georgia BORIC (gk)
Subs Not Used: 36,Georgia BORIC (gk)
Yellow cards: 18.Taren KING (79’)
Red cards:
Goals: 21.Ellie CARPENTER (42’)
