The Newcastle Jets have taken the lead in the amazing 4 way battle for the Premiership. Goals to Joel Griffiths and Mark Bridge saw off a determined Perth Glory side who had previously won every game they have ever played in the A-League in Newcastle.
Much of the pre game talk was on who would win the Premiership (First past the post). Not surprisingly the Jets fans predicted they would and that they needed a 4 goal victory margin, the CCM were also mentioned, and the chances of both Sydney and Qld Roar were down played with everyone expecting both teams to slip up in their final games.
So Goals were the order of the day for the Jets and they started with a very attacking line up - Holland, Hoffman, Hearfield, Bridge and Griffiths all started, it was an attacking 4-3-3 and it was the Jets who commenced the quicker Hearfield is clear but falls over, Hoffman chips Petkovic and is just wide and then Griffiths misses from point blank in front of goal, all in the first 5 minutes.
Rukavytsya responds with a shot but Covic saves, Topor-Stanley twice in the space of 6 mins nutmegs Hoffman who fouls Topor-Stanley, Hoffman receives a yellow card.
The Jets have 3 men forward at all times and on 21 minutes a Holland free kick is cleared to Spencer his fierce shot is just wide of the far upright. The Jets take the lead a minute later Thompson's beats Simpson and his perfect cross finds the head of Griffiths, who has the simplest of headers 1-0 Jets and Joel Griffiths has broken the A-League record for most goals in a regular season with 12.
Pert Glory leave Simon Colosimo out of the side (is he going to Sydney ?), Stan Lazaridis is injured and pacy James Downey is on the bench for Glory who have Rukavytsya again responding this time his shot is wide of the upright.
The Jets are keeping possession with a series of passes, but Rukavytsya is away on goal but Covic saves his close range effort.
On 36 minutes Rizzo is given a straight red card for a studs up challenge on Elrich, it seems a bit harsh and the home fans roar their approval and now anticipate a goal flood, its all smiles as predictions of 3, 4 and even 5 goals are boldly made.
But its Perth who then dominate possession with 10 men as the Jets drop off their intensity. The home fans are silenced as Topor-Stanley heads a corner on to Harnwell who heads home from close range as the first half ends, its 1-1.
The second half commences with a Hoffman long range shot. A procession of Jets passing ends with a 25m Elrich blast that has Petkovic diving to make a full stretch save.
On 54 minutes Hoffman beats Coyne and with the goal at his mercy he simply passes to no body.
The Jets attacks are ending with their wingers, but their final crosses aren't accurate enough, Hearfield decides to take on the back peddling defence, his shot is deflected just wide of the near upright.
On 64 minutes a Hearfield pass has Bridge through on goal, and Bridge fires past Petkovic its 2-1 Jets. The Jets have retaken the lead and their fans are going crazy.
The Jets knowing goal difference will make the difference continue to create chances, Tunbridge fires just wide from 20m and Elrich strikes an upright. But in the end it finishes 2-1 Jets, the fans applaud but deep down everyone knows it's not enough to win the Premiership, but is it enough to make the top two? The next 48 hours will tell us.
So for the third year in a row the Jets are semi final bound, Glory are yet to make the semi finals.