Jets v Victory

A-League report by Robert Szomolnoki
Newcastle United Jets v Melbourne Victory


The Jets have their season back on track with a gutsy 4-2 win over Melbourne Victory, they wrapped the game up after racing to a four goal lead in the first 60 minutes, the game featured a hat trick scored by Matt Thompson.

Archie Thompson began proceedings by almost scoring a goal on 90 seconds as Milligan traps a through ball, it pops up for Thompson who chips Covic but the ball lands over the cross bar.

It was the Victory who commenced the quicker a Allsopp shot is deflected to Archie Thompson who scores from close range but the lines man raises his flag. Then Allsopp on 14 minutes takes a quick snap shot from a headed Jets clearance he has Archie Thompson unmarked to his left.

On 16 minutes a super cross from Jesic finds Matt Thompson who scores with a beautiful diving header 1-0 Jets. The home fans go wild.

One minute later and its almost 2-0 a Jesic shot/cross is touched just out by Theoklitos.

Matt Thompson is having a wonderful game in the middle of the park he wins possession in the penalty area and tees up Joel Griffiths who toe pokes the ball just wide of the far upright.

On 29 minutes Archie Thompson uses his pace down the right flank his cross is miscued by Hernandez on the near post and the chance goes begging. Two minutes later a Ward cross finds a diving Archie Thompson his bullet header is just wide of the near post.

As half time approaches a good D'Apuzzo cross finds Matt Thompson his glancing header is just wide, but just one minute later a Jesic cross finds Matt Thompson who fires in with a low left foot shot, 2-0 Jets and its half time. The crowd are enthralled by the Jets performance as they clap their team off , its been all high tempo and pleasing on the eyes.

The second half commences as the first half ended with a Matt Thompson goal, a Jets corner is cleared to Kantarovski who finds the on running Matt Thomson who blasts in from close range 3-0 Jets, his first A-League hat trick.

On 55 minutes Griffiths crosses for Kantarovski his low shot forces a diving save from Theoklitos. Its all the Jets. Song breaks away he finds Joel Griffiths who races to the by line and crosses for Song to tap in its 4-0 Jets and Song has his first A-league goal. The small crowd are in raptures.

Joel Griffiths is full of running as he races away and crosses for an unmarked Jesic, rather then simply chest the ball down and smash the ball in the youngster opts to head first time and the ball goes just over the cross bar.

On 66 minutes Hernandez finds Allsopp he turns his defender and from the edge of the penalty area he fires one in past Covic its 4-1 Jets. The travelling Victory release a fare in the stands but it is quickly put out by security, the home fans respond by booing.

On 83 minutes Kemp's cross finds Fabiano directly in front of goal but he heads wide. But four minutes later he latches on to a quickly taken Muscat free kick as he heads past Covic its 4-2 Jets.

It finished 4-2 Jets, they remain last on the ladder - and Victory have now lost 3 in a row.