Photo: It was a bit of a bumpy landing for the Jets on their re-laid pitch [PlessPix]
Newcastle Jets 1-0 Wellington Phoenix
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Newcastle Jets moved into 7th place and level on 15 points with 8th-ranked Wellington Phoenix after this 1-0 home win over the Kiwis at EnergyAustralia Stadium last night.
Newcastle were missing central defender Ljubo Milicevic and midfielder Ruben Zadkovic, while the Phoenix were without Jade North and Tim Brown.
After a goalless opening half, Marko Jesic scored the only goal of the game in the 55th minute.
He was put through on the left of the box and, as he turned inside, Wellington defender Troy Hearfield slipped and fell, allowing Jesic an unimpeded shot at goal, his low strike going across Mark Paston and lodging inside the far post.
The pitch was terrible. It had been relaid recently after a motorcross event had made it unplayable.
The turf was unstable in patches and easily dislodged. At one stage, a groundsman with a bucket of sand had to come on and repair a large patch near the half-way line.
The pitch may also have cost Newcastle dearly in terms of injury. Sean Rooney came on in the 75th minute for Francis Jeffers but lasted only 6 minutes before going off with a knee injury which may well prove serious. There was no contact with another player and Rooney obviously wrenched his knee on the unstable surface.
Newcastle deserved the points. They had 54 per cent of the possession against a Wellington outfit that changed to a back-3 from a back-4 in the second half to try and get back into the match. The move proved unsuccessful and the visitors were very disappointing.
It was Wellington’s fifth loss from six away games this season.
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Newcastle Jets: Kennedy - Elrich, Regan, Topor-Stanley (Wheelhouse 71), D-Apuzzo - Kanterovski, Wehrman, Fiorentini - Jesic, Abbas, Jeffers [(Rooney 75) Petrovski 81] (Subs not used: Nash)
Booked: Abbas
Goals: Jesic 55
Wellington Phoenix: Paston - Hearfield, Sigmund, Durante, Muscat - Bertos (Daniel 71), Elliott, Ward - Greenacre (Pavlovic 63), Lia, Ifill (Subs not used: MacAllister, Vukovic)
Att: 12,147
Ref: G Parsons
2 comments:
I thought that Newcastle showed in the last week what a difference a new owner and a new philosophy can make to a team.
While their passing was a little sloppy in the final third, the performance following two impressive games against the 1st and 2nd placed teams in the league, showed Newcastle will be a force to be reckoned with in the latter part of the season.
Topps has improved dramatically in his time in the Hunter. Jeffers looks the part and Kantarovski was very instrumental in controlling the midfield, especially in the second half. Elrich is once again hitting form with some blistering runs down the right hand side and pinpoint crosses. Jesic will hopefully become more clinical, because he could have quite easily bagged a hat rick. Newcastle outclasses Phoenix, although as a Jets fan I may be bias! Hopefully Newcastle continue the rise up the table. The return of a Griffiths could aid this considerably, same it isn't Joel though, who is heading to Wellington, rumour has it.
I was shocked to hear about the promising young striker Kerem Bulut's gang involvement. A real shame as he looks to be a very talented player. Seems stupid to throw it all away....
Tariq cross a ball ! ha puts more in the grandstand behind than in the box ! count how many times he gives ball away in a game and you will realise how much of a liability he is ( josh Rose will cause havoc on wednesday night for the coasties )
Kasey is the man pity he didnt come back earlier in his career he is class but can only last around 70 min , Kanta is learning so much from him , very similar to Jesic who can thank Jeffers for his sudden show of form.
If ernie dingo hadn't got injured not sure Lubo would get a start on wednesday either , regan has been excellent in his 3 games as a fill in .
I believe the Jets have the right Griffiths - remember Joel wouldn't even train with team last year even though under contract - players don't want him neither does the coach !
Newcastle United
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