The Newcastle Jets have gone down to Canberra United this afternoon, as two second half goals saw the visitors take the three points at No.2 Sportsground.
After an even start to the contest, the Jets began to find some cracks in Canberra’s backline. Arin Gilliland found space in the box, and was dragged to ground leaving referee Maddison Kennedy with little option, but to point to the spot.
Jets’ skipper Emily Van Egmond stepped up and sent Canberra’s keeper Haley Kopemeyer the wrong way, and Newcastle were quickly into an early lead.
Van Egmond had the ball on a string for much of the opening half, finding Jenna Kingsley throughout the half with some decisive diagonal balls.
Kingsley proved to be a constant menace down the right flank, while striker Katie Stengel was strong at the point of the Jets’ attack, holding up possession and creating chances for Kingsley and strike partner Cortnee Vine.
Canberra struggled to find a way through Newcastle’s stout backline, with Hannah Brewer – in her 50th match for the club – superb at centre-back in the absence of the injured Tash Prior.
The home side headed to sheds – comfortable with a one-goal advantage – however, on the resumption the Jets were forced to pay the price when a momentary lapse allowed Ash Sykes to sneak through and slot the equaliser.
From there, Canberra began to look the better side and when Toni Pressley rose highest and headed home a United corner, the visitors found themselves in front.
Newcastle searched for the equaliser, with Jets coach Craig Deans looking to his bench and sending striker Tara Andrews onto the park. Andrews combined well with Stengel in the front third, but neither could find the finishing touch on a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.
Canberra extended their unbeaten run against the Jets in the Westfield W-League to 14 matches and climbed above Newcastle and into the top four for the first time this season.
The moments:
1′ | 0 – 0 | And play is underway here at No.2 Sportsground in Newcastle, as the venue hosts it’s first ever Westfield W-League fixture #NEWvCBR
8′ | 0 – 0 | PENALTY! As Gilliland is dragged down in the box! #NEWvCBR
9′ | 1 – 0 | GOAL! Van Egmond makes no mistake with the spot kick as she buried her shot into the right corner #NEWvCBR
11’ | 1 – 0 | A dashing run from Cortnee Vine on the counter causes some concern for the Canberra defence, fantastic charge from the Young Matilda! #NEWvCBR
17′ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Stengel, Van Egmond and Gilliland combine to have the Canberra defence at sixes and sevens as Kopmeyer makes a great save, spoiling Gilliland’s strong strike #NEWvCBR
22′ | 1 – 0 | Van Egmond threads the needle from the top of the 18-yard for a charging Jenna Kingsley, as the Canberra defence just cuts out her pass – corner Jets #NEWvCBR
30′ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! A Vine strike cannons into the crossbar after a neat interchange of passing from Van Egmond and Stengel to put her into space #NEWvCBR
38′ | 1 – 0 | CHANCE! Stengel goes close off the back of a cutting run by Clare Wheeler, her powerful strike sails over the crossbar #NEWvCBR
45+1′ | 1 – 0 | Van Egmond has it on a string this afternoon! Again linking up with Kingsley courtesy of a beautiful long ball #NEWvCBR
47′ | 1 – 1 | Goal for the visitors as they draw level through Ashleigh Sykes #NEWvCBR
54′ | 1 – 1 | CHANCE! A Van Egmond strike from long range is just kept out by Kopmeyer #NEWvCBR
60′ | 1 – 1 | Some play from the Jets there! A fantastic interchange of passing as they transition from defence to attack – Clare Wheeler working overtime here #NEWvCBR
67′ | 1 – 2 | Another goal to the visitors as Toni Pressley gets a header clear from the set piece #NEWvCBR
81′ | 1 – 2 | A massive shout out to today’s crowd at No.2 Sportground, with 1,133 supporters attending this afternoon’s #WLeague fixture! #NEWvCBR
Ground: No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle
Attendance: 1,133
Newcastle Jets: 2.Hannah BREWER, 5.Arin GILLILAND, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 8. Sophie NENADOVIC, 9.Katie STENGEL, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 11.Cortnee VINE, 16.Nikola ORGILL, 17.Jenna KINGSLEY, 18.Clare WHEELER 28.Britt ECKERSTROM (gk)
Subs: 12.Tara ANDREWS, 14.Tara PENDER, 20.Claire COEHLO (gk) 21.Pana PETRATOS,
Subs Not Used: 20.Claire COEHLO (gk)
Yellow cards: N/A
Red cards: N/A
Goals: Emily VAN EGMOND (10’)
Canberra United: 1.Haley KOPMEYER (gk), 4.Toni PRESSLEY, 6.Caitlin MUNOZ, 8.Liana DANASKOS, 14.Ashleigh SYKES, 16.Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 18.Taren KING, 19.Aoife COLVILL, 21.Ellie CARPENTER, 23.Michelle HEYMAN, 34.Laura BASSETT
Subs: 7.Nickoletta FLANERY, 10.Grace MAHER, 20.Amy SAYER, 36.Georgia BORIC (gk)
Subs Not Used: 36.Georgia BORIC (gk)
Yellow cards: Laura BASSET (68’)
Red cards: N/A
Goals: Ashleigh SYKES (47’) Toni PRESSLEY (67’)
