The Central Coast Mariners ended any hopes of a Newcastle clean sweep in this weekend’s F3 double header with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over the Newcastle Jets at Wanderers Oval, Broadmeadow in Round 4 of the Westfield W-League.
The Central Coast Mariners ended any hopes of a Newcastle clean sweep in this weekend-s F3 double header with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over the Newcastle Jets at Wanderers Oval, Broadmeadow in Round 4 of the Westfield W League.
Although the Jets defeated the Central Coast 2-1 on Friday night in their Hyundai A-League clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium, the Mariners leveled the score with today-s win.
The match was in contrast to last year-s clash between the two sides in Season 1 of the Westfield W-League that the Jets won 4-2.
Central Coast captain Caitlin Cooper came into the game looking for nothing less than three points to continue their quest for the finals, though giving respect to their opposition saying that they cannot afford to underestimate the Jets despite their slow start to the season.
They did exactly what they set out to do and get their campaign back on track after losing to Brisbane Roar last week.
Credit to Jets Head Coach Wayne O-Sullivan for continuing to give players chances as he again experimented with his squad, bringing in Elizabeth Sharpe onto the bench while Tara Andrews and Madeline Searl both started today-s game.
Leaving experienced defender Stacey Day out of the squad, O-Sullivan showed confidence in his younger players who impressed today.
Newcastle got off to another slow start though and conceded early for the third consecutive week with a low cross finding Lydia Vandenbergh at the near post after just five minutes.
They scored again soon after as a defensive error gifted Michelle Heyman with a one on one opportunity against Jets goalkeeper Alison Logue in the 21st minute, Heyman keeping her composure to side step Logue and finish.
It took just three minutes for the Mariners to add to their total leaving the score 3-0 after just 24 minutes.
Logue did well to tip a deceptive Heyman cross over the bar as the Mariners capitalised from the resulting corner. Heyman again finishing from close range to take her tally to two for the day in a goal mouth scramble that saw Amber Neilson doing her best to stop the ball from crossing the line as Logue was left stranded in the area.
Gema Simon looked to take a knock late in the half which forced Jets Head Coach Wayne O-Sullivan to bring on the promoted Elizabeth Sharpe as a replacement in the 43rd minute.
Kirstyn Pearce was the second Jets player to go into the referee-s book after Amber Neilson-s earlier booking, as she was shown a yellow card for her challenge on Renee Rollason inside the Jets area resulting in a penalty. Logue went the right way but was unable to stop a well placed penalty from the Mariners- Kendall Fletcher who converted the spot kick.
The Jets looked a far better outfit in the second half as they came close to scoring on several occasions.
Tara Andrews almost opened the Jets account on 75 minutes as she headed over the bar from a Neilson free kick.
Despite a solid period of attacking pressure from the Jets, Trudy Camilleri capped off the scoring spree for the Central Coast late in the half after coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute.
The Jets did however receive some consolation from the match as Tara Andrews scored with minutes remaining.
She was rewarded for a fine performance in her first appearance of the season heading into an open net following a powerful Leia Smith shot that rebounded off the cross bar into her path.
Jets Head Coach Wayne O-Sullivan seemed to move Andrews into a more attacking role late in the second half and this move paid off with Andrews looking dangerous and scoring the first goal of the season for the Jets squad.
The win puts Central Coast on top of the ladder with Brisbane Roar still to face Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Although the Jets managed to open their scoring account, they find themselves asking more questions and have a difficult match next week travelling away to face Melbourne Victory at Bob Jane Stadium.
Match Details:
Newcastle Jets Women 1
Central Coast Women 5
Wanderers Oval, Newcastle
Referee: Kirralee GARDINER
Newcastle Jets line-up: 1. Alison LOGUE (gk), 3. Pelay INGLES, 6. Amber NEILSON, 7. Gema SIMON (2. Elizabeth SHARPE 43-), 10. Hayley CRAWFORD (c), 11. Carlie IKONOMOU (8. Bronte BATES 69-), 12. Emma STEWART, 16. Kirstyn PEARCE, 17. Madeline SEARL, 18. Leia SMITH, 19. Tara ANDREWS
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Caitlin JARVIE, 20. Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
Yellow Cards: Amber NEILSON 54-, Kirstyn PEARCE 65-
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners line-up: 1. Jillian LOYDEN (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Lyndsay GLOHE, 4. Rachael DOYLE, 8. Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI (13. Trudy CAMILLERI 65-), 9. Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kendall FLETCHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN (16. Jenna KINGSLEY 71-), 12. Samantha SPACKMAN, 14. Ashleigh CONNOR, 19. Lydia VANDENBERGH,
Substitutes Not Used: 17. Britt SIMMONS, 20. Rachel COOPER (gk).
Yellow Cards: Ashleigh CONNOR 90-
Red Cards: Nil
